Category Pages For: Journeys

Information about getting from A to B

Ticao - Bangka to Masbate
  JUNE 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from San Antonio To Ticao Island and I stayed in the Ticao Lodge, San Jacinto for 2 nights. San Jacinto is a pleasant little town in the real Philippines – away from the busy and popular tourist spots. It was time to move on to Masbate. The internet in San Jacinto was so bad that I couldn’t do any detailed planning before I left … to some extent, I was running blind … MINIBUS TO LAGUNDI: The owner of the Ticao Lodge told me that Jeepneys leave from San Jacinto […]

Ticao – Philippines – To Masbate City

  JUNE 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from Maripipi to San Antonio and I stayed in the Haven Of Fun Beach Resort for 2 nights. There were only 2 nights available in an ‘acceptable’ quality room. San Antonio is a nice ‘hideaway’ island if you are looking for a quiet place in the real Philippines – away from the busy and popular tourist spots. It was time to move on to Ticao Island. The internet on San Antonio was so bad that I couldn’t do any detailed planning before I left … to some extent, I was […]

San Antonio – Philippines – To Ticao ...

  JUNE 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from Naval to Maripipi and I stayed in the Napo Beach Resort for 3 nights. The Napo were great hosts and I will have more to say about them in a future post … It was time to move on north. My next target was San Antonio Island just off the east coast of northern Samar. To get to San Antonio, I had 2 options: OPTION 1 – VIA TACLOBAN CITY: Head south back to Naval and take Minivans through Tacloban City, Catbalogan City, and Calbayog City. This entailed: A 4:00am […]

Maripipi – Philippines – To San Antonio

  JUNE 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my way from Ormoc to Naval and I stayed in the QUTCERR BED & BATH for 2 nights. I only stayed for 2 nights in Naval so that I could have a quick look around and organise a trip to Maripipi Island. Naval was surprising pleasant but it is not a town where you want to stay for more than a day or two. If you are coming to Naval, have a look at the QUTCERR; the Aircon Double with cable tv and wifi is good value (for The Philippines) at PHP1,000 / night. HOTEL TO […]

Naval – Philippines – To Maripipi Island

  JUNE 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had made my way from Malapascua Island to Ormoc and I stayed in the ORIENTAL PENSION PLAZA for 2 nights. I only stayed for 2 nights in Ormoc so that I could have a quick look around and organise the rest of my trip to Biliran. Ormoc is a grubby little place; don’t bother coming unless you are in transit. Don’t bother staying over-night unless you need to. And, don’t pay more than PHP1,000 / night to stay in a Deluxe Aircon Double at the ORIENTAL PENSION PLAZA. HOTEL TO MINIVAN TERMINAL: My hotel was an […]

Ormoc – Philippines – To Naval

  MAY 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had made my way from Bantayan Island to Malapascua Island and stayed in the BLUE CORALS BEACH RESORT for 10 nights. As I say in my post about Malapascua, you only really come to this island for SCUBA diving. It was time to move on to Biliran Island. But, first, I had to get to Ormoc. BANGKA TO MAYA: If you are staying in the ‘Green Zone‘, it is an easy walk to the port. Make your way to the small wooden building that sits over the water. The bangkas leave […]

Malapascua – Philippines – To Ormoc

  MAY 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had made my way from Cebu City to Bantayan Island and stayed in the KOTA BEACH RESORT on Bantayan for 8 nights. I was pleasantly surprised by Bantayan. I liked the place. Bantayan has made it into my Retirement REVIEWS. It was time to say goodbye to my friends and to move on to Malapascua Island. HOTEL TO FERRY: I was up at 5:00am, showered & packed, and on the street by 6:15am. There was 1 Trike waiting outside the front of my hotel. The Trike ride to the Ferry Terminal should […]

Bantayan – Philippines – To Malapascua

  MAY 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had made my way from Panglao to Cebu City and stayed in the USDA DORMITORY HOTEL Cebu City for 2 nights so that I could have a look at the ‘Queen City’ of The Philippines – before continuing on to Bantayan Island. Once again, I was disappointed. It is just another ‘unkempt’ Philippines city with a noticeable increase in beggars and many poor people sleeping rough on the streets (even during the day). You had the feeling that you needed to be a bit more ‘careful’ in Cebu City. HOTEL […]

Cebu – Philippines – to Bantayan Island

  MAY 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had spent 8 nights on Panglao Island: 2 nights in the SPIRIT OF NORWAY and 6 nights in the AQUATICA BEACH RESORT. Panglao is the start of my loop back north through the eastern islands of The Philippines. Once again, I was disappointed with Panglao. It is just another El Nido and over-priced – but with a slightly better beachfront and slightly less tourists. It was time to move on to the northern Cebu island of Bantayan; but, first, I had to pass through Cebu City. HOTEL TO FERRY TERMINAL: My journey from Siquijor […]

Panglao – Philippines – to Cebu City

  MAY 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had spent 3 nights in the Palm Tree Guesthouse on Siquijor Island. I had been slowly making my way south from the famous Boracay Island to Siquijor Island before turning north through Bohol to Cebu. I was still trying to find a GRANDPAcking Retirement Location in The Philippines … I had not found one yet (and, I have been in The Philippines for nearly 4 months). My trip had taken me via Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Roxas (Panay), Iloilo (Panay), Bacolod (Negros) and Dumaguete (Negros); I was unimpressed by all of these cities … I have come to […]

Siquijor – Philippines – To Panglao

  APRIL 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had spent 3 nights in HAROLD’S MANSION in Dumaguete, Western Visayas. I was slowly making my way south from the famous Boracay Island to Siquijor Island. My trip had taken me via Roxas (Panay), Iloilo (Panay), Bacolod (Negros) and now Dumaguete (Negros); I was unimpressed by all of these cities … in fact, I have been unimpressed by all of the cities that I have visited in The Philippines from when I first arrived in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Puerto Princesa is meant to be the ‘cleanest’ city in The Philippines. I have come to the […]

Dumaguete – Philippines – To Siquijor

  APRIL 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had spent 3 nights in the SUITES AT CALLE NUEVA in Bacolod, Western Visayas. I was slowly making my way south from the famous Boracay Island to Siquijor Island. Dumaguete was my next stop on the way. My trip had taken me via Roxas (Panay), Iloilo (Panay) and Bacolod (Negros); I was unimpressed by all of these cities so far … in fact, I have been unimpressed by all of the cities that I have visited in The Philippines. Dumaguete is a University City with lots of students around … I am hoping that their […]

Bacolod – Philippines – To Dumaguete