Philippine Travel Notes

Is Danang Beach a good tourist destination? My 'expert' answer is: GO! Now na! Let's talk about this famous beach, since this is where I stayed during my visit. Those huts are at Holiday Beach Hotel 's Beach Club . I was at the bar for that photo. In front of all the huts, I looked to the left, and this was my view... Still gloomy and hazy at 0832H. Well, this was Christmas Day. I think on this date, it is also like that in the Philippines, even all of Southeast Asia. I do remember, Bali is. This kind of beach shoreline goes all the way to, almost encircling those hills. That's the Sơn Trà Peninsula (still in Danang) , and there are many things to see or do there! For one, the Inter-Continental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is there, maybe 15~20 kilometers from this beach club. Then white sands again, up to the Xoan Peninsula . It doesn't stop there, as white sandy beaches line all of Hue , all the way to Nghe An . Yet you don't have to go tha...

It's a beach resort in San Jose De Buenavista, Antique. But I had no idea where the beach resorts in this town are. Well, we went to a beach then, but that was more than 2 decades ago. My priorities in those crazily-fun years were different. I didn't care where I was, I was busy enjoying activities with the pack! So, when I and my contacts agreed to meet, I said I wish we could gather at a resort with a nice cozy terrace or balcony, overlooking good views of a beach and the sea. It wasn't too random. I based that on the town's name: de buena vista which means of or with good views . I said, let this be a meeting of great people amid good views! They said that's easy as all their beach resorts are like that! One suggested we meet at this popular resort that just spruced-up its balcony with an already fantastic view. So, I went to find it, and this is it... Vista Veranda Beach Resort ! That is the veranda of one building, made like, and with the amb...

After a few days in Bohol, here I was, departing from the new Bohol International Airport. Yey! But, as I always say, 'let me start from the very beginning'. So here was my getting out of Alona Beach ! Finding The Bus Stop I walked from ISIS Bungalows to the main road (corner of Circumferential Road & Alona Beach Road). That is the usual way of most everyone exiting from the various beach-side resorts on Alona Beach. If you're not the walker type, there are motorcycles or tricycles you can hire at the corner by the beach. Alona Beach Road is too narrow for vehicles to enter and try to maneuver a u-turn at the end (beach), as it always teems with humanity (mala-palengke na sya). Only emergency/PWD vehicles are allowed. Mind you, that's about 500 meters of an upward walk. Not really that steep. I think that intersection is only about 30ft above sea-level, and from the beach corner where Alona Beach Road starts ascending is about 300 ft. away, thus th...

Going home time! This part of my travel is important to share - for your comfort and convenience. Many Boracay visitors just get busy arranging for their way 'going there'; the myriad of activities to do; the kinds of food to feast-on; the types of drink to taste - 'while there'. Oftentimes, their coming home part isn't given much attention. Yet we should equally consider that, to ensure a memorable vacation. Having said that, let me continue to tell my story , yes, this was still our Boracay story , but I will put-in various tools, techniques and notable 'musts' that I have learned through all these years of traveling. First to watch out for: What time do we leave the island? Most hotels have a "1400H/1200H" rule. Meaning you may only check-in at 2PM and must be checked-out by 12NN. So, to maximize your stay on the island, you should leave the hotel at about 12NN. Diba? Now... how about your flight out of Caticlan (or even Kalibo w...