Hills that looks like perfect mounds of chocolate. Primates so small, they fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Restaurants that float gently down a river. Welcome to Bohol.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Monday, September 23, 2013
Where to Stay in Bohol
Bohol has a large number of hotels, resorts, and other facilities for tourists. Most of these are concentrated in Tagbilaran and around Alona Beach, with a few more scattered around the island. To help you make your choice we have listed most hotels here, with some short personal comments.
We often get requests for the cheapest resorts or places to stay. This is a question we cannot answer. More important, it often makes little sense to go for the cheapest. I think it is better to go for the best value for money, within your budget, and considering your wishes. There are very expensive hotels that are worth every centavo of their rate and cheap hotels that offer great value for money, but you can also be unlucky and end up in an overpriced place at any rate.
The purpose of this site is to help you find a place that matches your budget and expectations. As a general rule, if you want to stay directly on the beach, you pay much more, and could easily find a much more pleasant place a few hundred meters from the beach. When you select one of the larger, secluded resorts, you will pay considerably more than with most smaller resorts, especially if alternative locations are nearby (such as on Alona Beach).
Please also take into account that in the more secluded places, you have less choice of restaurants (often only the resorts' own restaurant is your only option and some even charge an excessive "corkage" when you bring your own food), and your options of getting there and away are limited, which may result in even higher bills.
Also be aware that some resorts charge double the normal taxi fare for their transfer service, while others include it for free as a service!
Anda
Anda, a peaceful municipality on a peninsula with the same name at the north-east of Bohol, about 100 kilometers from Tagbilaran (2 hours by bus), until recently mostly unaffected by tourism, but this has changed recently with more and more people discovering its wonderful beaches, and the attractive environment of the peninsula. An increasing number of resorts have opened their doors to visitors, and a few more are in development.
| Amun ini Beach Resort & Spa Address: Bas Dako Beach, Candabong, 6311 Anda, Bohol, Philippines Phone: +63 38 510 6230 Phone: +63 917 7965 412 Email: info@amun-ini.com Website: http://www.amun-ini.com |
The Amun ini Resort, opened in 2012, is located at Bas Dako ("big sand") Beach in barangay Candabong. With its large nipa-covered roof, this resort is developed to blend in in its environment, and has a range of luxury facilities, such as an infinity pool, and its own chef-run restaurant.
| Bituon Beach Resort Contact Person: Markus Hohmann Address: Basdio, 6310 Guindulman, Bohol, Philippines Email: Bituon@wtal.de Website: http://www.bituon.com/ |
Bituon Beach Resort, under German and Filipino management is located on top of some very nice cliffs in Basdio, Guindulman. It consists of a number of nicely maintained bungalows in native style with a terrific sight across the Bohol Sea. The bungalows are provided with basic facilities, and are clean and spacious. They lack an aircon, but, given the normally cool breeze that blows from the see, you won't miss it. The restaurant serves excellent food, but is not a-la carte, although they will adjust to special dietary wishes, and is one of the few places in Bohol able to prepare a good vegetarian meal. Bituon Beach Resorts has its own complete diving facilities. The resort also has its own tiny patch of beach at the feet of the cliffs. A concrete stair will lead you to a very small beach, from which the resort's dive-boats leads you to a number of dive-sites along the coast of the Anda peninsula.
This resort caters mostly to German speaking scuba divers who arrive here on fully pre-arranged tours. The rate starts at EUR 34 per person (not per bungalow) per night, including all meals. Given the location on top of high cliffs, the place is less suitable for small children.
Cocowhite-Beach Resort, also in Basdio, but Swiss owned, opened its door on 4 May 2002. It has a small private beach, and includes all facilities for diving, including courses. The resort also is mainly oriented to German speaking guests on fully arranged tours. Cocowhite Beach resort has its own patch of beach underneath some nice cliffs. Rates are in the order of USD 30 per person per night, including all meals.
| Dapdap Beach Resort Contact Person: Grace Tinio Lim Address: Candabong, Anda, Bohol, Philippines Phone: +63 38 528 2011 Email: info@boholdapdapresort.com Website: http://www.boholdapdapresort.com/ |
Dapdap Beach Resort, in Candabong, Anda, lies at the western end of Anda's stretch of wonderful beaches. Under Filipino management, this resort offers air-con rooms up to PHP 1500, and family rooms for PHP 600. Simple nipa huts can be had for PHP 400. It also offers shelters for picnics.
Flower-Beach Resort, in Virgen, Anda, provides air-conditioned guestrooms in duplex houses. Build in traditional materials, but designed to western comfort standards. The resort has its own diving facilities, with access to some of the better, but less visited diving spots near Anda.
Baclayon
| Peacock Garden |
In Baclayon, you will find what is probably the most luxurious resort of Bohol, The Peacock Garden Resort and Spa. Located up in the hills of Upper Laya, away from the hustle and bustle of town, you'll find a resort and spa with a truly great ambiance reminding of the splendor of the rich and wealthy of the late nineteenth century.
| The Peacock Garden Luxury Resort and Spa Contact Person: Peacock Garden Address: Upper Laya, 6301 Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines Phone: + 63 38 539 9231 Phone: + 63 917 326 9000 Fax: +63 38 540 9487 Email: relax@thepeacockgarden.com Website: http://www.thepeacockgarden.com/ |
Balicasag Island
Balicasag island is a small island south of Panglao island and belongs to the municipality of Panglao. It is the home to a small barangay with the same name, two light-houses (an old, American build one, and a modern one build with British aid), and one resort. Around the island are some of the best diving spots in the Philippines. A world-class overhanging wall, going from about 7 to more than 60 meters deep, and some wonderful coral reefs that are worth the trip alone. Balicasag Island Dive Resort has a number of okay cottages straight on the beach at the southern side of the island, and its own restaurant. The restaurant suffers somewhat from the fact that it has no competition on the island what-so-ever.
Cabilao Island
| Polaris Resort |
Cabilao Island is an island to the west of Bohol, part of the municipality of Loon. Unlike the nearby islands of Sandingan and Pangangan it is not connected with the main land of Bohol, so you'll need to go there by boat, which is possible from Barangay Mocpoc in Loon. On the island are three resorts, and some of the best diving locations of the Philippines. The dive-site north-west of Cabilao Island is a favorite spot for shark enthusiasts, as hammerhead sharks can be seen here regularly. On the island itself, birds are protected, which means that you can see more of these feathered friends than you are used to on the main-land.
Probably the best value for money is Polaris Beach and Dive Resort, run by the German-Filipino couple Franz and and Maria Baumann. Franz is one of the few German resort owners who speaks fluent Cebuano, and is also active to build up the local community and preserve the islands natural beauty.
| Polaris Beach and Dive Resort Contact Person: Franz and Maria Baumann Address: Pantudlan, Cabilao Island, 6327 Loon, Bohol, Philippines Phone: +63 38 505 4118 Phone: +63 918 903 7187 Email: info@polaris-dive.com Website: http://www.polaris-dive.com/ |
They offer nice air-conditioned rooms with hot shower at about USD 32 per night. Considering that everything has to be brought from the mainland by boat, this is a fair deal. On their resort, that lies directly near the beach, they have a nice swimming-pool and restaurant.
| La Estrella Beach Resort Contact Person: Estrella Zagorski Address: Cabilao Island, 6327 Loon, Bohol, Philippines Phone: +63 38 505 4114 Phone: +63 38 505 4151 Fax: SMS +63 918 904 4859 Email: info@laestrella.ph Website: http://www.laestrella.ph/ |
La Estrella Beach Resort, located directly at the sea, has a number of neat luxury bungalows in native style, a restaurant and a bar. The resorts is close to the Sea Explorers diving school, which has its own compressor, boats, and equipment to offer diving trips and (PADI) dive courses. The smaller bungalows are 10.40 euros (PHP 600) and 13.50 euros (PHP 800) per night, and can house two persons; the larger bungalows are 20 euros (PHP 1200) per night, but can house four guests. If you come here for diving, they have some interesting package deals, such as 1 week stay and 12 dives for 389 euros (PHP 24,500).
| Cabilao Beach Club Contact Person: Henry Firlay Address: Cambaquiz, 6327 Loon, Bohol, Philippines Phone: +63 917 4545 897 Phone: +49 341 21 24 341 Email: cabilao@skyinet.net Website: http://www.cabilao.com/ |
The third resort on Cabilao is Cabilao Beach Club on the North-Eastern side of the island, close to the barangay Cambaquiz. Run under German-Swiss management. This resort, in operation since January 2004 and has four bungalows with all facilities, and a restaurant plus bar.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
HOW TO GET IN BOHOL
BY AIR
The city of Bohol is mainly served by Tagbilaran Airport.
Flights to and from Tagbilaran to Manila take around 1 hour and 15 minutes. Domestic and budget carriers have daily flights.
BY LAND
It is possible to take a Roll On-Roll Off boat with your vehicle from Cebu to Tagbilaran.
Check out this blog for an indication of schedules – http://cebuboattrips.com/slow_ferries.htm
BY SEA
The Tagbilaran City Tourist Port serves boats plying the busy Cebu-Bohol sea traffic and major port cities in Mindanao.
A fastcraft ferry ride from Cebu takes about 2 hours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)