This is my first review here, hello everyone^^

This trip was inspired by watching the TPBS documentary series "The Sea Wanderers". [Spoiler] Click to see hidden texthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZcq0nBa_ew
After watching it, my heart swelled with excitement. I really wanted to see whale sharks. I'm not usually interested in the underwater world, I don't like diving, I get seasick, I get seasick even when I snorkel. But after watching this documentary series, wow, it's so beautiful! The story is so well-organized, and it's so enjoyable and educational! The host, Palm Cholunnat Koykul, is lovely. The underwater team "digitalay" of TPBS is also very lovely and incredibly talented. They are true professionals. The documentary series, the underwater footage, is of international standard. If anyone knows the team, please let me know. I'm really impressed, seriously impressed. Thank you for giving people who don't like diving the opportunity to see such a beautiful world without having to dive ourselves. Hehe.

That's a lot of rambling. Let's just get started, shall we? Hehe.

Let's start by planning, exploring flights, maps, and times. As you can see in the picture, I heard that Cebu Pacific used to have direct flights from BKK to CEB, but now they don't. You have to connect in Manila.

The OP needed to fix the return time, so they had to pay for a non-low-cost Philippine Airlines ticket. The ticket price was not very economical. For friends who can manage their time, there are many promotional tickets and low-cost tickets available. ^^

The price of the tickets we booked

Cebu Pacific BKK-MNL-CEB = 5,243 baht

Air Asia TAG-MNL **This one got a 499 baht promotion plus add-on this and that = 933 baht

Philippine Airlines MNL-BKK = 8,568 Baht

The total round trip is 14,744 baht.

On the way there, I will land at Cebu Airport. On the way back, I will depart from Tagbilaran Airport, as it is closer to the accommodation where I will be staying on the last night.

The internet signal is good. I bought an AIS roaming package. The network there is Globe Telecom. Overall, the signal is good. There is a hotel in Oslob that doesn't work very well. Other than that, even in the middle of the sea, I can still live.

The power plug is the same as in Thailand, with a voltage of 220. You don't need to worry about this.^^

The exchange rate is PHPx0.77=THB (This rate is from April 2016)

Cebu and its surrounding areas boast a plethora of captivating tourist destinations. Among the most notable are historical landmarks and numerous diving spots. (For scuba diving enthusiasts, this region offers pristine natural beauty. The author's research revealed that rare marine creatures, such as pygmy seahorses, can be observed in these waters.)

Interesting diving spots include Olango Island, Malapascua Island, Bantayan Island, Capitancillo Island, Mactan Island, Kansantik Island, Pescador Island, and many more.

There are many historical sites in the area, such as Fort San Pedro, the Parian Monument, the 1730 Jesuit House, and the Algre Guitar Factory, which is a guitar factory.

Due to the limited time of 4 days and 3 nights, and the fact that it was during the Songkran festival, I got a program that was time-saving but not very money-saving. ^^" However, in this review, I have included some details that I was able to find, in case there are people who have more time and are not in a hurry, and want to save a little more money, so that they have more options.

The red dotted line on the travel map is the route of the OP's group. The other marked points are places of interest, but some of them had to be cut due to time constraints. (The map is a rough draft, so the marks may be slightly off.)

As for the tour program, the OP made a very serious itinerary for their friends, as shown in the picture. 555 I guess they had a lot of free time. 555

Everything is ready, let's go! (The author will tell you about the experience, feelings, and insert prices and contact information at the same time. As for the summary of expenses, it will be summarized at the end. ..Erm.. I'd like to say that the pictures aren't very beautiful, so please look at the information instead. Hehe, I was really focused on sightseeing this trip, more on sightseeing than taking pictures.^^)

Bangkok-Manila takes about 3 hours. When the plane is about to arrive in Manila, looking down at the city, the houses are almost all like this. A little surprise, hehe.

The Malila Airport was overcrowded. I'm not sure if it's always crowded or just during certain times, but when I was there, both on the outbound and return flights, the seats were scarce, and people were fighting for them. There weren't many restaurants, and the air conditioning at the gate seemed to be broken, making it very hot. To top it off, my flights were delayed both ways, which was very frustrating. Oh well.

After flying for a while, there will be beautiful islands below. For me, I have never seen anything like this before. The shapes are strange and I like them.

Flying in the late afternoon, the sky is beautiful. As we get closer, we see islands and high mountains floating in the sky... So this is what it means when they say "mountains piercing the sky" ^^

After a while, it started to get dark. My eyes started to close and I fell asleep. Hehe.

The flight from Manila to Cebu takes about an hour. Oh, by the way, the Philippines is one hour ahead of us. ^^

Let's start the tour now, haha.

Day 1 // April 12th

Airport transfer Car from Cebu Airport to Oslob I decided not to book in advance to see the situation (and the flight was really delayed). If I'm not too tired, I intend to take the regular bus. I heard it's so good that it has free Wi-Fi on board.

The public bus is cheap, but you have to travel to the Southern Bus Terminal to catch it. The buses run from 3:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The hotel recommends taking a company with yellow buses. The price I found was 150 php per person, but you have to take a taxi from the airport. The taxi fare to the Southern Bus Terminal is 300 php per car.

You can find the bus schedule here (look for the one going to Oslob): http://www.cebu.gov.ph/cebu-south-bus-terminal-bus-schedules/

In the end, we decided to rent a van because we arrived late at night. After picking up our luggage, we saw the information counter. We went to ask, and the staff recommended that we contact the van driver who was standing next to the counter. It was a Toyota Commuter, a regular van. The van that they arranged for our group was in good condition, not old, but not new either. It was clean. The price was not much different from what we had researched. The price of the van was 5,000 php (after bargaining from 5,500 php). We booked it right away, haha.

The information on Airport Transfer prices that I compared comes from this website (please see Oslob as the destination) http://www.cebuairporttransfer.com/

The price of the car I was looking at before I came here.

Before boarding the plane, we bought food at the "Jollibee" restaurant. Standing waiting for our luggage, we saw the restaurant standing tall before the exit. It's a fast food restaurant there, and it's sooooooo delicious. We each ordered a box on the plane, and everything was really delicious. The restaurant is like this (I borrowed the picture from the internet, it's not the branch at the airport).

The journey took about 3 hours. The traffic in the city was very bad, similar to Bangkok, but the roads were much worse. There were a lot of cars and motorcycles. Before coming, I wondered how we would cross from Mactan Island to Cebu. When I saw the bridge, it was huge! Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture because it was already dark. I borrowed a picture from this website to show you.

https://allkindsofawesome.ninja/2011/09/09/scenes-from-aeroplane-windows/

Once you leave the city, the road becomes a two-lane highway with oncoming traffic. The left lane runs along the beach, alternating with villages. As you get closer, there will be a forest-covered mountain that resembles the roads on Koh Chang. I don't have any more pictures because it was really dark. ^^"

The driver floored it, driving the scariest I've ever been in a car. 5555 He overtook without thinking, overtaking four trucks at once on a bend, overtaking solid lines, overtaking everything, driving as fast as if he was fleeing the police. 5555

People here must be night owls. Even at nine o'clock at night, people are still playing sports on the side of the road. There are basketball courts all along the way, and there are people cheering them on. There are also a lot of people walking on the side of the road. While we were driving, some kids jumped into the street to tease us. They were really playing hard. Cars were honking and swerving to avoid them, and we were screaming our heads off. 5555 In the end, we arrived at our destination safely (although we were shaking all the way).

I felt relieved when I arrived. When I paid for the car, he asked, "Can I pick you up on the way back?" ... Hmmm, well, consider it...

The first night in Oslob, the owner booked Downsouth 118 beach.

Upon arriving at the hotel, we booked a tour with the hotel guide. It was the highlight of the trip: swimming with whale sharks. The price only included transportation and the guide, at 250php per person. As for the entrance fee, the guide instructed us to pay it directly at the site.

(This tour is recommended to leave early in the morning, because if it is late, there will be a lot of people because they limit the number and time.)

Downsouth 118 beach Resort The room is clean, cute, new, by the sea, but there is no beach. The price is reasonable. Double room (double room) 1,673 baht per night.

I booked my accommodation through Booking.com. I changed my booking several times because I changed my travel plans many times while I was planning my trip.

If I have to nitpick, the service here is similar to an apartment. The staff is simple and honest, but I didn't feel bad about it. The room has the usual shampoo, soap, and towels, but there is no minibar, no refrigerator in the room, no complimentary drinking water, and no breakfast. However, we were aware of this information before we arrived, so we didn't have any problems. The hotel bar sells some essentials, including instant noodles, drinking water, soft drinks, and snacks. I tried the spicy Nissin, which was delicious! It was 75 php for a large cup. The price of a small bottle of water, about 600 ml, is 20 php at this hotel. A can of beer is 50 php.

After eating a delicious bowl of instant noodles, I'm going to relax and get some rest. Good night!

The room is clean because it is very new. There is still a slight smell of paint.

Here are some other interesting hotels in the same area:

Oslob Seafari Resort*

You can book with agoda or booking.com.

The cheapest room is 2,122 Baht per room per night. This resort also has family rooms that can accommodate 7 people for around 7,000 Baht per room per night.

The location here is great, very close to a great whale shark viewing spot. It can get a bit crowded, and the rooms are a bit old, like an old resort in the countryside.

Eden Resort*

You can book through agoda or booking.com.

The cheapest room starts at 3,000 baht per night.

This one has a review from a Thai person saying it's very good, so I wanted to book it, but it's always full.

Voda Krasna Resort & Restaurant*

You can book through agoda or booking.com.

The cheapest room is around 3,000 baht per night.

From the reviews and pictures on the website, this hotel looks very good. It also has a beach. Downsouth is closer, so I've ruled it out.

Fantasy Lodge * This is the one I want to stay in the most because the view in the picture is so beautiful.

You can book through agoda or booking.com.

The cheapest room is around 1,000 baht per night. The price is very good.

This hotel, judging from the reviews and pictures on the website, looks absolutely amazing. However, it is quite far out, and with limited time, I reluctantly had to cross it off my list.

This picture is from Tripadvisor. If I get to go again, I will stay here^^

Day 2 // April 13 - Whale shark trip and crossing to Panglao Island

Ping, good morning! I woke up early at 5 am. While waiting to take a shower, I came out to take some pictures. The view from my room is beautiful. It's very early here, the sun is already smiling at 5 am ^^

The room is similar to a rented room with a shared balcony. There are only two floors. From this picture, the hotel room is the building on the left.

Zoom in a little more.

This is what I mean when I say the hotel doesn't have a beach.

The atmosphere in the hotel is quite cute, haha.

This is the seat where I ate instant noodles last night.

This morning there was a minor incident.

The guide was supposed to meet us at 6:30 AM, but it's almost 7:00 AM and he still hasn't arrived. We're starting to get worried, so we went to the hotel counter to pressure the staff to call him. The staff connected us to the guide, and we were furious at him for being late.

I told him, "Are you coming or not? If not, just say so! I'll find my own way there." (At this point, I still didn't know where to find a car, haha.) The guide replied in a very dejected voice, "I'm on my way. Wait 10 more minutes." He then added, "There are no whale sharks today." When I heard that, I was stunned for 15 seconds. ...... Hey, did I hear wrong? Or is it no shark << or >>no charge (or is he saying he won't charge me because he's late, huh? Is he really that kind?) I must have misheard. Let me ask again to be sure.

OP: What?! No whale sharks? You're kidding me... Seriously?!

Guide: Really, one came and left... (very disappointed voice)

OP: Why?

Guide: I don't know either. One came, then left. Tourists are stuck here, starving. The center has stopped selling tickets...

Oh my god! Really? No way! Is this a dream? Okay, I'll be there in 10 minutes.

Oh my, what's going on, Mr. Whale... The vast ocean, the distant horizon, can you tell me, Mr. Whale, are you still waiting?

.......

.............

...................

We were so disappointed. At that time, we didn't know if it was true or not, but we were extremely disappointed. A few moments later, the guide arrived with two tourists. It turned out that the reason the guide was late was because the two tourists didn't want to leave yet. They wanted to wait in case the whale sharks came back.

The guide was asked if he knew the reason, and he replied that he really didn't know, because this was the first time in Oslob that the fish hadn't come for breakfast. The guide's voice echoed in my ears, an echo of "This is the first time there are no fish, ah ah ah ah ah."

(In the late afternoon, we received news of an earthquake in Japan. We speculate that this is the reason why the system in the sea is turbulent.)

Will we be that unlucky? "Nooooooooo, no wayyyyyyy" (Echo's voice replied)

We were on the verge of tears, discussing what to do next. Should we cancel our room on Panglao Island and wait here, trying again tomorrow? Or what should we do? But the boat had already been chartered, and the price was quite high. The room on the island would also be charged. After discussing it, we decided that if there were really no fish today, we would charter a boat back again tomorrow morning. So, for today, we decided to wait for the fish at the center, find breakfast nearby, and wait for hope to appear.

We got on the pickup truck that the guide brought to pick us up. It was a pickup truck with a cap. Some of us had to sit in the back of the truck. No problem. It was a winding road up and down the mountain, but it only took about 10 minutes to get there.

Upon reaching the center, the guide took us to a beachfront restaurant. There were several shops next to each other, similar to beach shops in Thailand. The atmosphere was like Samui, with no umbrellas or sunbeds. 55 The weather was good, the sea was beautiful, and the sand was white and sparkling.

This is a view of the front of the restaurant (I didn't take a picture of the restaurant itself, it's like a beachside restaurant similar to those in our country, open-air with two floors). The local boat with long legs like a spider is called a Banga Boat. Thai people like to call it a spider boat. ^^

While we were waiting for our food, the guide came to tell us that the whales had arrived, but there were only 3 of them, and they were small, not the boss whales (usually, there were up to 12 whales at their peak). It was like a voice from heaven telling us how happy we were. We were so, so, so, so, so happy. The guide asked us to pay so that he could queue up to buy tickets according to the procedure.

The price of a Snorkel ticket is 1000 php per person. If there is no guide, we have to queue ourselves. And there are a lot of tourists, because they were held up from the incident this morning. So in the late morning, it gets more and more crowded. It's good that the guide helped us queue.

The restaurant on the top floor has a great view and the atmosphere is good. It's hot, but not as hot as Thailand. As for the food prices, we ordered breakfast sets for 195 php each. There are other options too, such as grilled pork with rice (local dish) for 135 php per set. It was delicious and the portions were quite large. The prices are expensive, as is typical of tourist attractions. The place was quite crowded, probably because there were a lot of tourists waiting to see the whale sharks.

This dish is grilled pork. It may look tough, but it's actually delicious and tender. It's a famous local dish.

Another dish similar to sweet pork, it was delicious. As for breakfast, I don't have any pictures, it looks the same everywhere haha.

After a long wait, the guide came back looking dejected and said that the center had stopped selling tickets. Noooooooooo!!! I wanted to scream.

"In the Philippines, the focus is on the number of tourists. They will limit the number of visitors, not everyone who goes will be able to see it. By limiting the number of people in each round and the number of rounds per day, they are preserving the environment of the site and the marine life. The WWF is involved in managing the ecosystem, and there is a systematic approach. For example, whale sharks are counted, and it has been found that their numbers are declining alarmingly every year.

All whale sharks have names. Ah... how do they know which one is which? Ecologists take pictures of the spots on their sides and record them (the spots on the side of the fish are like human fingerprints).

Thanks to various conservation systems, everything in this country is still relatively abundant. Most fishermen are also conscientious and know how to fish sustainably. They have received proper knowledge through government support. Unlike our country, some places accept unlimited people, which has led to the destruction of many places. (Enough, don't go up, heave ho!)

……..

Please cut back to the guide. The screen is as cute as we are. What should we do?

A photo of the guide's face. I took it secretly. I think he must be stressed too. He has been queuing for a very long time. I have been secretly checking on him from time to time. The guide is really queuing, and it has been a very long time. I feel sorry for him, but I'm sorry for myself first. Hehe!!!

In summary, we were allowed to dive, but we had to hire one DM for every two tourists for safety reasons. The initial price was 3,500 php per person, which we split. I'm not sure if we were overcharged (but I suspect we were, as I had read online that scuba diving typically costs around 1500 php per person). However, there were a lot of tourists waiting in line, and if we had refused, another group would have taken our place. We consoled ourselves by thinking that the price was higher because we didn't have a license. We also figured that if we didn't dive that day, we would have to come back the next day, which would have been even more expensive. So, we decided to go for it.

Before we accepted, we bargained. We really wanted to bargain. The girls fought with the DM boys. In the end, the girls won. They reduced the price by 200 each, leaving it at 3,300 php each. It was still good. So we got to experience Scuba diving for the first time in Vietnam. We were confused, excited, and a little scared.

After paying, the DM brought us our suits to change into. We looked quite a sight, all disheveled and awkward, because everyone had come in their regular clothes, t-shirts and shorts for the beach, and now we had to put on wetsuits over them. Some of the wetsuits were even ripped! Haha, we weren't allowed to choose. Professional divers would probably have been rolling on the floor laughing at the sight of us, especially when we had our tanks on and they were so heavy. Several times I caught the DM's exchanging glances and trying to hide smiles. Haha!

Then the DM introduced the DM of each pair, followed by teaching us how to breathe, how to behave underwater, teaching sign language, teaching how to deal with underwater air pressure, telling the rules and regulations, spending about 10 minutes on the beach and teaching in the water for another 10 minutes. It ended with the sentence that said....

“Once you're down, don't panic. It's very important. Relax and let go. All you have to do is breathe properly. Your DM will guide you. I repeat, you don't have to do anything, just breathe. If you can't stand it and want to go up, you can go up anytime. Even if you only go down for 5 minutes and want to go up, you can. But... always remember that you've already paid for this hour. Make the most of it, because I won't refund you under any circumstances. Hahahahaha. I hope everyone enjoys this trip. And then he really led us, we barely had to swim ourselves. Hahahaha.”

The main rules for watching fish here are:

• Do not apply sunscreen or any lotions.

• Do not use flash when taking underwater photos.

- Feeding the aquatic animals is strictly prohibited. Only trained personnel who can provide zooplankton are allowed to feed them.

- Do not approach the whale within 4 meters.

- Do not jump or splash in the water. Please be quiet, okay? Hehe.

- Do not throw anything into the sea because the whales suck everything into their mouths. The whales may be in danger.

This one, the Golden DM, is a real hit.

Then they brought us tanks to wear. Oh my god, they were so heavy! My shoulders almost gave out. Then they told us to walk down. This part was really difficult because the rocks were slippery and the tanks were heavy. We had to walk hand-in-hand, like old ladies walking slowly for fear of falling. Haha.

The instructors will teach you in the water before you go diving. The boats are lined up in rows. This is where they let the rafts down when the whale sharks come. It's just a short distance from the shore.

This underwater photo was taken by my friend. I don't have a camera, so my friend made a sacrifice by keeping an eye on everyone's location to make sure they were all captured in the photo.

I want to say that I don't even know which direction I'm swimming in. If I were the one holding the camera, it would be terrible.

DM really led us, led two people, almost didn't have to swim ourselves 5555

We have to start swimming from the shore, you see. They didn't take the boat out to drop us off, because it was only about 200 meters away (at first I thought they would take the boat to drop us off, haha). During the swim out, I was very excited. I didn't know how big the shark would be, where it would be, or how we would see it. Would we swim into its mouth as it sucked us into its belly? (Okay, that's an exaggeration, haha).

It's not like snorkeling, where you can sometimes peek above the water to see where the fish are before diving down. This is like diving down and not knowing when you'll see a fish. And then I did! It's an experience that's hard to describe. It's truly a must-trip in life. So exciting!

Oh my god! I found it! When I saw it in person, it just floated slowly and ate, ignoring everyone. It looked so kind and cute! Before I came, I was scared. What kind of fish is it? It looks like a giant suckerfish with spots. Before I came, I was still thinking whether to go down or not, I was scared and hesitant. I want to say that it is really handsome in person! Aaaah! I accidentally screamed in the water, oops, water got in. I came up to breathe for a while and then went down again. Haha.

We are very close.

When you are underwater, please do not accidentally press the like button underwater. Once you press the like button, the DM will take you up. It is a hand signal to ask to go up to the surface. We pressed it many times out of habit. The teacher must be tired. 555555555

As for feeding whale sharks in Oslob, I myself am torn between whether it should be done or not. Even ecologists are divided, with one side arguing against it because it disrupts the ecosystem and the natural feeding patterns of the fish, which should be foraging on their own.

The other side thought it was good because the big guy would have to find food for himself anyway. What they gave him wasn't enough for his needs. At least the big guys would be able to live in this area, a safe zone, without having to swim to the South China Sea and be caught and eaten.

I don't know who to side with, but I know I have to go before they cancel this. 5555

****The OP would like to add a message about safety.*****

This article was written on a public board, so the author wanted to provide accurate information to interested readers. Therefore, the author went to find more information about diving regulations and found that Scuba diving without a license is not correct and can be dangerous at any time.

Before divers can dive or take diving lessons, they must undergo several tests and training steps, including a health check and a doctor's certificate. This is because, to be honest, the author and their friends had absolutely no knowledge and were really just planning to snorkel. When they decided to dive, they repeatedly asked the Filipino DM, who assured them that they could dive as long as they hired a DM to accompany them. Additionally, the water was not very deep, as they were only a short distance from the shore. So they believed him and dared to dive.

For those who haven't taken any lessons yet, I recommend snorkeling. For those who want to scuba dive, take a course before you go for safety reasons. ^^

After an amazing whale shark tour, we returned to the hotel to shower and prepare for our boat trip to Panglao Island. On the way back, we saw our booked boat, standing out majestically in the middle of the sea. The boat was even more beautiful than we had imagined. Wow, we were so excited!

Upon returning to the resort, we found the captain waiting for us with a small boat at the resort's pier. He arrived very early, about an hour before the scheduled time. We told him that we needed 15 minutes to shower and pack our belongings. The weather was hot and sunny, but the captain waited patiently. We quickly finished our business and boarded the small boat to reach the larger vessel. It took about 3 trips to get everyone and all our luggage on board. The larger boat was anchored quite far away.

The water is so clear, it's unbelievable. I want to jump in, but I have to go. Hehe.

Upon boarding the boat, the captain introduced himself and the two other crew members, and informed us of the estimated duration of the trip.

The boat was really comfortable. It was quite big and had a bathroom. Our original plan was to go to the market first to stock up on food to eat on the boat, but the incident that happened wasted a lot of time. There was nothing on the boat except for some snacks that my friend had brought. So we just sat and lay around. Haha.

Finding information about Speedboats was extremely difficult. Reviews were scarce, and the information I did find was often outdated, sometimes dating back several years. When I inquired at hotels, they told me that they only had Banga boats. Then I came across a review on Tripadvisor written by a foreigner who had taken a local Banga boat from Panglao to see the whale sharks in Oslob. The experience was terrifying: the boat broke down and they were stranded at sea for several hours. This made me even more nervous...

But in the end, I found this company called Dream of Cebu. This is their website: http://dreamofcebu.com/ It's a company that rents out yachts, and you can rent them to go to different islands as a day trip. They respond to emails quickly, are easy to contact, and have a fan page. Just search for Dream of Cebu on Facebook and you'll find it. The boat was amazing! It was so much fun. The price for a one-way trip without stopping anywhere from Oslob to Panglao was 20,000 php (a two-hour trip). If you stop at Sumilon Island, it costs an additional 8,000 php. We thought it was expensive, but there were no other options. We asked all the members and they were okay with it, so we booked it. When the boat sent us the invoice, we paid half as a deposit by bank transfer (it cost 800 to transfer, ouch!). After we transferred the money, we were excited, but also a little worried that we might get scammed. But we didn't! We were just being paranoid.

***However, I must say that the boat we originally booked was this one, which is smaller than the one that actually picked us up. It has a capacity of about 7-8 people. When the day approached, Dream of Cebu sent an email informing us that they would upgrade us to the larger boat that picked us up (probably because the boat was already delivering another group). We were lucky.

Besides this type of boat, Dream of Cebu also has many other boats. The latest promotion is this boat, which is suitable for parties on the boat.

Who is a celebrity? Go ahead, don't wait. Hee hee.

Traveling to this island doesn't require chartering a boat like I did. You can take a regular ferry, but you'll need to take a bus back to Cebu to catch the boat. The journey from Cebu to Tagbilaran Port takes about two and a half hours.

You can check the regular ferry schedule from Cebu to Tagbilaran on this website: http://bohollifetours.com/getting-to-tagbilaran-bohol.html/After sitting, lying down, and walking around for a bit, two hours passed and we arrived. The boat stopped in front of the hotel and we took a small boat to the shore. The water was very clear and we could see many starfish, both small and large. (The picture is not clear and not as beautiful as seeing it with your own eyes.)

The starfish found here are like this: they come in many colors and have sharp bumps on top. They are soooo cute!

Here are some clear pictures of starfish. (Actually, it's better not to touch them and let them stay in their natural habitat.) But the pictures on this website are not mine, hehe >> http://fresh-trip.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Protoreaster_nodosus_6.jpg

Upon arriving at the hotel, I checked in. As soon as I sat down, they served me a welcome drink with a refreshing cold towel. Oh boy, it was so refreshing! Then, they put this thing around my neck for good luck. No, not really, it was a welcome gift, similar to how they give you flower garlands when you arrive in Thailand. It was so cute.

This island is called Panglao Island, a small island south of Bohol Island. The Bellevue Resort is located at the southernmost tip of the island. [Spoil] Click to view hidden text It's really at the tip. http://www.thebellevuebohol.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/873/2016/03/3.jpg It has a truly private beach. The sand is beautiful, not quite white, but slightly off-white. The sand is soft, the water is clear, but there is seaweed a little deeper in the water. The seaweed is soft and feels like grass under the water. The atmosphere is very, very, very good. The beach is very, very good. The room is beautiful and very spacious, it seems like it can accommodate five people (but they only allow a maximum of 3 people). The food is very, very, very good, with a million "kors" (a Thai word for emphasis). The staff is very, very, very good, with two million "kors". In the evening, it's not quiet and lonely. There is a live jazz band to entertain you, making you enjoy your food, your eyes, and your heart.

The Bellevue Resort

You can also book through agoda or booking.com websites.

However, the OP booked directly with the hotel because there was an attractive promotion.

- My friend's room booked a 3-day, 2-night package for a Deluxe Seaview room (for two people) for 19,723.40 php. The price includes tax and service charge.

- For the room, the OP purchased a 3-day, 2-night package for a Deluxe Seaview room (for three people) for 24,124 php. The price includes tax and service charge.

This price includes breakfast, airport or port transfers, 30 minutes of kayaking per room, and as much snorkeling equipment as the hotel has available (normally charged extra). The hotel's facilities are of a standard expected of a 4-5 star hotel (personally, I would rate it 4 stars).

The hotel is located on the Doljo Beach side, which is relatively quiet. I didn't see any shops along the beach.

http://www.thebellevuebohol.com/

This room is a triple room. It has 2 queen beds and an extra small bed.

General atmosphere as seen from the balcony of the room

At night, the swimming pool changes color (lights) continuously. There are red, green, blue, and purple.

Late at night, the housekeeper brought me snacks to my room. Wow, she's really spoiling me. But I don't dare try it, haha!

Breakfast line.

This dish is famous. It's delicious everywhere I've tried it. Grilled pork, yum yum.

Here are some other interesting hotels on Panglao Island.

Dumaluan Beach Resort

You can book with agoda or booking.com.

The cheapest room is 1649 baht per room per night.

It's a mid-range hotel, not too expensive. The rooms are like a typical 2-3 star hotel. At first, I was going to choose this place, but after reading the reviews, many tourists complained about the beach having black sediment, which is dead algae. After consulting with the members, we decided to change to a better hotel for safety reasons.

The hotel's website http://alonatropicalbeachresort.com/

Momo Beach Escape

You can book through the website agoda or booking.com.

The cheapest room is 4,910 php per room per night.

The hotel is very cute, worth staying, and the price is friendly. But I didn't choose it because the beach in the picture doesn't look very wide. I'm a bit picky ^^"

http://www.momobeachhouse.com/

South Palms Resort

You can book through agoda or booking.com websites.

The cheapest room is 5,326 baht per room per night.

This hotel is located on the Alona Beach side, which is a bustling area. However, from the photos on the website or various reviews, the hotel's own beachfront is not crowded.

The luxurious hotel looks inviting but is expensive. The rooms, as seen on the website, are in a resort style, not high-rise. The lowest-priced room, which is not beachfront, was not an option for us.

The hotel's website http://www.southpalmsresort.com/

Henan Resort Alona Beach

You can book with agoda or booking.com.

The cheapest room is 5,569 baht per room per night.

This hotel is also located on the Alona Beach side, but from the pictures on the website or various reviews, the hotel's own beach is not as crowded.

It's a hotel-style building, not very tall but always full. I couldn't book it during that time, so I crossed it off my list.

The website of the hotel http://henann.com/bohol/henannalonabeach/

There are a lot of hotels on this island. I think even if you go as a backpacker and walk in, you should be fine.

Besides staying on Panglao Island, the author also regrets not choosing this other accommodation.

Bluewater Summon Island Resort

You can book through agoda or booking.com.

The cheapest room is 9,179 baht per room per night.

(There are also tents available, but they are also quite expensive at 6119 baht per tent per night.)

This hotel is located on Sumilon Island, a small island with beautiful beaches and white sand. There is only one resort on the island, which is close to where you can see whale sharks. However, due to limited time and the need to return on an early flight, we decided to skip it as traveling by boat may not be convenient.

The hotel itself looks ordinary, but I think the location makes it expensive. The rooms seen on the website are ordinary, in a general resort style, but the view is very beautiful.

http://www.bluewatersumilon.com.ph/

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Day 3 // April 14 - Bohol Chocolate Hills and Loboc River Tour

This morning was a tour of Bohol Island. I booked a full-day van rental with a driver and paid for the entrance fees myself. The van rental was super cheap, only 2500php. The driver and guide were the same person, named Biegy. He was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. We were so impressed that we gave him a generous tip.

You can book a car with a driver at http://boholrentacar.com/. The author contacted an employee named Ramil via email at [email protected]. They responded quickly and provided excellent service.

The car that will pick you up is like this ^^

I'll stop by the grocery store to buy some water in a bit.

The first place to visit.

The Tarsier Sanctuary is a great place to see these adorable primates. They are similar to slow lorises, but much smaller, and are one of the smallest monkey species in the world. The guide told us that they are lethargic during the day, but can jump very far at night, with some individuals jumping up to 3 meters! They are very cute. The sanctuary is clean and well-maintained. It's like they've placed the monkeys on branches that they've set up, and we walk along a path, with the monkeys clinging to the branches here and there. The path is short, so we don't have to walk far. There are a few rules to follow, such as no flash photography and no loud noises. We spent about 20 minutes at the sanctuary.

Buy tickets before.

Then the guide took us to the Tigbao bamboo suspension bridge. We didn't go down. The guide said it was slippery because of the rain.

Seeing a waterfall near the bridge, the water is so green and beautiful, I have to stop by.

Next, we went to the Chocolate Hills, which is considered another highlight of the trip. However, I must admit that I was a little disappointed. The viewpoint was closed for repairs due to an earthquake that caused the hill to collapse. The viewpoint itself was also damaged and needed to be repaired. The earthquake also caused almost all of the mountains to collapse, reducing their beauty and grandeur. However, it is still a unique and beautiful place that I have ever seen. The weather was hot, but I'm sure it's hotter at home (we win!).

Translation:

The parking lot is a short walk up the stairs.

The upper level is closed to the public. The viewing area is currently under maintenance.

It turns out that when I got down, the view from the parking lot was even better.

Translation:

On the way out of the Chocolate Hills, Biegy stopped for a photo op at the iconic Man-made Forest in Bilar. These mahogany trees were planted to prevent landslides and soil erosion. Once mature, the trees can be used for various purposes, including guitar making, according to our guide. It seems music truly runs in the blood of Filipinos, as we encountered people humming tunes everywhere we went. ^^

It was lunchtime, and our guide took us to the Loboc River cruise to enjoy a meal on board. The atmosphere was fantastic, with live music playing classic international folk songs. The water in the river was a stunning emerald green, truly breathtaking. The boat resembled a floating market in Kanchanaburi, but the scenery was different. Here, coconut groves alternated with reed beds. However, the food on the boat was disappointing. The dry pork satay made us wonder if it was even pork, and the fried chicken and fish were bland and tasteless. Despite the lackluster food, the atmosphere was worth the 442php price tag.

The boat uses a small boat to push it, not to tow it like in our country.

The food on the boat is a buffet. (The food should be greatly improved.)

Translation:

The atmosphere on the side of the road is very chill.

Translation:

After sailing for a while, we stopped at an activity area that they had set up. There were people dressed as savages who would let us take pictures with iguanas and other reptiles (for a fee, of course). It was kind of cool, in a weird way. 555

Translation:

"Help me buy a coconut, 1 piece please, 50php. The coconut is sour and spicy... I feel like I made a big mistake. Look at her eyes, huh!!!!! 5555"

After that, the boat sailed back to the starting point. We returned to the hotel. There are other interesting places to visit, such as Baclayon Church, Dano Adventure Park (a zip line location), and ATV. However, we did not stop by because it was raining, so safety first.

We were planning to play Zip Line before coming here, but after the van ride on the way here, we don't think anything will be more exciting than that. 55555

Upon arriving at the hotel, we had a blast snorkeling and marveling at the abundance of colorful starfish, both small and large, along the beachfront. We also enjoyed kayaking and swimming in the pool until dusk. Afterwards, we had dinner at the hotel and then retired to our rooms for a restful night.

The food at this hotel is considered expensive, but we didn't go anywhere else, so we ate here. The price per dish is around 300php, but the portions are quite large and filling.

The hotel has a car to take you to Alona Beach. If you want to go sightseeing or eat at a local restaurant, you can also go.
The next day, the hotel arranged a car to take you to Tagbilaran Airport, which is about 20-30 minutes away from the hotel. There is no traffic jam.

Translation:

I can't help but mention this guy when I'm here. I've seen him everywhere I go, Pacquiao (I saw his picture, it's really everywhere).

Upon arriving at Tagbilaran Airport (TAG), I was quite surprised. The airport's condition resembled an old bus terminal. 55555 If you plan to use this airport, I recommend arriving early. During check-in, the crowd was massive, extremely crowded, and highly competitive.

Translation:

You have to pay the Airport Tag here, 100php per person. Don't spend all your money yet, keep some for this. ^^

This is a picture of the area in front of the gate. The glass door is the gate.

Before the plane took off, there was music to soothe us again. Oh my god!!! It was a folk song by a visually impaired person. It was chill, relaxing, and cute.

The boarding announcement is on. Who cares what the queue is?

Translation:

This is the airport building. That's all.

Upon arrival at Manila Airport, the domestic terminal is separate from the international terminal. If you are booking a ticket, please allow some extra time and avoid booking flights that are too close together.

The OP's itinerary is a good example for those with limited time. If you have more time, you can book a low-cost airline ticket and stay on Mactan Island for 1 night.

I have a hotel in mind as well.

Moevenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu (approximately 4,000 baht per night per room) This place has a great atmosphere. There is a very beautiful restaurant that is ranked among the best on the island.

For a more economical option, I recommend

Eloisa Royal Suites (approximately 2,000 baht per night per room). This hotel is known for its delicious food, close proximity to Cebu airport, Robinson's, and offers clean and new rooms.

In the morning, go snorkeling at Nalusuan Island and have dinner. The next day, cross over to Bohol and then travel to Oslob. Stay in Oslob for a long time and buy diving tours and island hopping tours. This should work and keep your budget under control. ^^

This is a table of shared expenses for the OP's group. The budget was exceeded, haha.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask. If the OP has any information, I would be happy to answer as much as possible. ^^

The translation is:

That's all for now. Thank you for following me to the end. I hope this review will be helpful for those who are interested.

Goodbye Philippines, I had a wonderful time.

Note: I will come back to correct the typos later. I apologize if there are any mistakes.**** *****