OP
Smit
Contributor
Thanks everyone for all the great info. This is a great thread for us folks unfamiliar with traveling the Philippines, both for traveling and the details on what to expect when you get there. I feel a lot more confident and comfortable trying to make my own travel plans at a more reasonable price. Still, until you make the trip the first time it's a little unnerving. As Centrals says, we don't know what we don't know!
I have no problem spending a little more to make travel more pleasant. The Si-Kat sounds good, I'll happily pay $27 for "luxury."
But I'll check out the Mi Corazon option as well. Reliability is the most important thing to me. I really don't want to find myself somewhere with a cancelled ride and nowhere to stay with luggage.
I prefer to fly United from San Francisco, and that flight gets in around 6:00 AM but I'd be inclined to spend the day in Manila to acclimate to the new time zone, then start the trip fresh the next morning. The Citystate tower hotel would be alright for one night to catch the bus to Batangas. I stayed at the Belmont last time, and it was nice, but kinda far away from the bus terminal for a 9:30 take off.
@Centrals , I've seen your posts on Southern Leyte and I find it very intriguing. I thought PG was absolutely great but if Southern Leyte is even better I'll want to experience it at some point. I've seen some information on how to travel to Southern Leyte and it looked a little more complex. And traveling to other places from Southern Leyte sound a little more time complex.
Malapascua is also a place I'd love to visit. I understand the Thresher sharks are the main thing but I've heard the diving in general is also very good there.
I have no problem spending a little more to make travel more pleasant. The Si-Kat sounds good, I'll happily pay $27 for "luxury."
But I'll check out the Mi Corazon option as well. Reliability is the most important thing to me. I really don't want to find myself somewhere with a cancelled ride and nowhere to stay with luggage. I prefer to fly United from San Francisco, and that flight gets in around 6:00 AM but I'd be inclined to spend the day in Manila to acclimate to the new time zone, then start the trip fresh the next morning. The Citystate tower hotel would be alright for one night to catch the bus to Batangas. I stayed at the Belmont last time, and it was nice, but kinda far away from the bus terminal for a 9:30 take off.
@Centrals , I've seen your posts on Southern Leyte and I find it very intriguing. I thought PG was absolutely great but if Southern Leyte is even better I'll want to experience it at some point. I've seen some information on how to travel to Southern Leyte and it looked a little more complex. And traveling to other places from Southern Leyte sound a little more time complex.
Malapascua is also a place I'd love to visit. I understand the Thresher sharks are the main thing but I've heard the diving in general is also very good there.
