First time to the Philippines and need help

[kevinl4270]

I hope this isn't too late for you but have you looked into Remington hotel in Manila? Any time I have one overnight in Manila that is where I stay. They have free shuttles to and from all terminals. Plus they are a casino so there are all ATMs there and all are usually working. We tried to go from Roxas Blvd to the airport two days ago and the roads were impassable due to flooding. Not fun.
The down side is Remington is a bit overpriced. In my opinion it should be in the $60/70 range instead of $90/110 that it is. But it's clean safe and super convenient. It was even better when there was a parking lot next door because you could cross it and get to half a dozen decent places to eat. Now it's a no go construction site. The casino has about two dozen restaurants in all price ranges.
Good luck and have a fantastic trip.

PS Mikes in dauin is still one of my favorite resorts in the Philippines!

 

[NautilusCairns]

I hope this isn't too late for you but have you looked into Remington hotel in Manila? Any time I have one overnight in Manila that is where I stay. They have free shuttles to and from all terminals. Plus they are a casino so there are all ATMs there and all are usually working. We tried to go from Roxas Blvd to the airport two days ago and the roads were impassable due to flooding. Not fun.
The down side is Remington is a bit overpriced. In my opinion it should be in the $60/70 range instead of $90/110 that it is. But it's clean safe and super convenient. It was even better when there was a parking lot next door because you could cross it and get to half a dozen decent places to eat. Now it's a no go construction site. The casino has about two dozen restaurants in all price ranges.
Good luck and have a fantastic trip.


PS Mikes in dauin is still one of my favorite resorts in the Philippines!

I stayed at the Remington overnight on the way to Anilao and it was fine. I'm also looking at going to Dauin and staying at Mikes next May.

 

[SlowSBC]

Heritage Hotel on EDSA/Roxa Blvd is good but where do you change the money? Unless your resort/dive operator on Malapascua accept plastic you need cash as there is no ATM there.
There are banks inside the arrival hall in Terminal 1 and may be ATM as well. And if you arrive not too late in the evening you can catch a taxi from your hotel to Asia Mall to change some more. But please do it carefully and NOT in large sum.
Island of the witch(Siquijor Island) might be interesting for a day trip.
I am sure you will enjoy the dive as well as the top side attraction in the country.

We plan to exchange money in Cebu City.

 

[Titatom]

Just came across this post. Personally, I'll skip Puerto Princesa this time of year as the diving is best if you do the Tubbataha liveaboard (sharks, mantas), which only runs March thru June. I also wouldn't do 9-days in Dumaguete as 4-5 days will be sufficient. I have not been to Anilao for a long time but I remember it was good. Still, I wouldn't spend more than 5 days there as well.

Traveling in the Philippines, as some posters mentioned, can be time consuming. I would focus on 2 places tops, or, spend less time at each place if opting to do 3 places. Aside from PAL and Cebu Pacific flights, you can also take the ferry that runs between Cebu and Bohol and Dumaguete. You can plan your trip along those lines and save some travel time (and excess luggage fees). These are neighboring islands in the Visayas and I believe, about 2 hr ferry ride to go from one island to the other. If you still have time and want to do some land tour, yes, Puerto Princesa's Underground River is worth a visit. May want to check to make sure that it is 'open' that time of year though as they may be close if water level is 'too high'.

A liveaboard may be a good way to maximize dive time and shorten the travel time. Check the Siren Fleet as I think they travel to that area this time of year. Not sure if they have trip from Anilao toSouthern Leyte for the time that you are there.

 

[davidmckinley01]

Everyone on this thread seems very informed about the Cebu area, as far as diving is concerned. I've also noticed a couple of resort owners on here. So, I thought I would ask here: what are to policies on spear fishing around the island? I am a hawaiian sling type, not too crazy about it, just like to catch some dinner every once in a while, freediving.

Thanks!

 

[bill22]

I've dived Dumaguete, Moalboal, and Malapascua. I second the recommendations of others. You can't go wrong with Mike's in Dauin, Nelson's in Moalboal, and Evolution in Malapascua. These are all operations that I've dived with.

For what it's worth in six trips to the Philippines I've only returned to somewhere I had been before twice. One of those places was Malapascua I spent 11 days there the first time, 7 more the second time, and plan to dive there again my next trip to the Philippines

 

[jbb]

We plan to exchange money in Cebu City.

The best exchange rates I have found are usually at the Grocery Store next to the Ayala mall (basement level - Rustans? maybe) in Cebu. Does anyone know a better exchange?

---------- Post added October 7th, 2014 at 02:49 AM ----------

I've dived Dumaguete, Moalboal, and Malapascua. I second the recommendations of others. You can't go wrong with Mike's in Dauin, Nelson's in Moalboal, and Evolution in Malapascua. These are all operations that I've dived with.

For what it's worth in six trips to the Philippines I've only returned to somewhere I had been before twice. One of those places was Malapascua I spent 11 days there the first time, 7 more the second time, and plan to dive there again my next trip to the Philippines

Good to hear. I also dive with Mike's at Dauin. I recommend Philippine Fun Divers on Alona Beach in Bohol and I dive with TSD on Malapascua. I think I will be on Malapascua for my 15th visit this November as unfortunately the Typhoon beat me by two weeks last year. Anyone know if Ging Ging's was able to rebuild their restaurant? I like a onion, tomato and cheese omelet and banana pancake with two bottles of coke after the morning shark dives I don't want to spend all my money at the dive shops.

 

[FT]

Best exchange rates and no fee (other than any fee your bank may impose) are through HSBC ATMs, which also let you withdraw up to P40,000. However, there's only one in Cebu, right downtown -- not worth fighting the traffic to get there, it'll add up to two hours to an already long transfer from the airport to Malapascua. There are several HSBC branches in Makati and one in Fort Bonifacio which, depending on time of day, could be 15 minutes from NAIA or an hour. Have overnighted in both cities as they have a nicer choice of restaurants and are more pedestrian-friendly than the area right around the airport. Actually, any ATM will give you a better rate than a money changer, but there are P10,000 limits on most, IIRC.
Many resorts will accept a credit card or Paypal : check with each chosen operator.

 

[Aquavelvet]

The best exchange rate I found was at the Manila International airport, for $100 bills. Since we were staying at an all-inclusive resort, that was the only time I really needed to change money. ATMs were available in town, but ATM fees can add up to a less favorable effective rate.


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[WOODMAN]

I hope this isn't too late for you but have you looked into Remington hotel in Manila? Any time I have one overnight in Manila that is where I stay. They have free shuttles to and from all terminals. Plus they are a casino so there are all ATMs there and all are usually working. We tried to go from Roxas Blvd to the airport two days ago and the roads were impassable due to flooding. Not fun.
The down side is Remington is a bit overpriced. In my opinion it should be in the $60/70 range instead of $90/110 that it is. But it's clean safe and super convenient. It was even better when there was a parking lot next door because you could cross it and get to half a dozen decent places to eat. Now it's a no go construction site. The casino has about two dozen restaurants in all price ranges.

I have to chip in and mention that fantastic free buffet breakfast which usually comes with a night's stay at the Remington. They serve it in "Hawker's Market", which is basically on the main floor and just around a corner from the reception desk, so you can't miss it. It had the biggest selection of breakfast menu items I have EVER seen. Hot, cold, American, Asian, custom cooked, soups, fruits of all types, breads, desserts, lions and tigers and bears-oh my! They literally had dozens of entrees. If you can't find something to your taste here, then you really have issues. Just remember to get a breakfast pass (one for each diner!) at the reception desk when you check in.