Carabao - To Boracay - Pump Boat
  MARCH 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had been making my way through the Romblon Islands. I had spent 8 nights on Tablas Island and another 8 nights on Carabao Island. I, now, needed to head for Boracay Island to renew my Visa. CATCHING THE BOAT: The ‘standard’ way to get from either Lanas Beach (west coast) or Hambil Beach (east coast) on Carabao Island to Boracay Island is to: Catch a 6:00am ‘commuter’ pump boat from the (Hambil or Lanas) ferry port to Caticlan (mainland Panay) for PHP100 Pay a PHP100 Caticlan Port Tax and a PHP75 […]

Carabao – Philippines – To Boracay Island

  MARCH 2016:   OVERVIEW: My costs start in Santa Fe, Tablas Island, Romblon and include: Transport from Santa Fe, Tablas to Port Said, Carabao Island 1 night in a GRANDPAcking Standard Fan Room on Hambil Beach 7 nights in a BELOW GRANDPAcking Standard Fan Room on Hambil Beach 1 day Moto Driver hire plus petrol and attraction entry fees Food & Drink Mobile Data / Communications Visa cost apportionment Transport from Hambil Beach, Carabao to Boracay Island CROSS REFERENCES: For more detail, read about Carabao – Philippines – Information. Click here to read about Retirement Locations in this country. Click here for detailed Travel Information and more Travel Budgets in this […]

Carabao – Philippines – GRANDPAcking Costs

  MARCH 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: Carabao Island is the southernmost (and smallest) of the islands that make up Romblon. Carabao is just north of (the famous) party island of Boracay; only a 1 hour boat ride away. Carabao is also known as Hambil Island (its pre-Spanish name) or as San Jose (its legislative name). Carabao is almost untouched by tourism. The beaches are deserted and quiet. It is nothing like Boracay. In fact, it is so laid back that there is hardly anything to do… GETTING THERE: I made my own way from Tablas Island to Carabao Island. The […]

Carabao – Philippines – Information

  MARCH 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had spent 8 nights in the AGLICAY BEACH RESORT, Alcantara on Tablas Island. I had planned to go from Tablas to Romblon Island for a few weeks but had to abandon that idea when I realised that I had to renew my Philippines Visa before the 16th March. The Visa renewal meant that I had to head south to Boracay. There are no Bureau Of Immigration offices on the Romblon islands. I decided to stop off in Carabao for a few days on the way. I hear that this is […]

Tablas – Philippines – To Carabao Island

MARCH 2016: OVERVIEW: My costs start in San Jose, Mindoro (after arriving on the ferry from Coron) and include: Transport from San Jose, Mindoro to Roxas, Mindoro 1 night in a VERY BELOW GRANDPAcking Standard Room in Roxas Transport from Roxas to the Aglicay Beach Resort, Alcantara, Tablas Island 8 nights in a GRANDPAcking Standard Room in the Aglicay Beach Resort 2 days of scooter rental plus petrol Food & Drink Mobile Data / Communications Visa cost apportionment Transport from the Aglicay Beach Resort to Santa Fe, Tablas Island (to catch the ferry to Carabao) CROSS REFERENCES: For more detail, read about Tablas – Philippines – […]

Tablas – Philippines – GRANDPAcking Costs

  FEBRUARY 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: Tablas Island is the biggest of the 3 islands that make up Romblon. Tablas Island is South East of Mindoro en route to Borocay and the Visayas. Tablas has been little impacted by tourism; accommodations and resorts, though, are available around the island. These islands are not as commercialized as their counterparts in Palawan and Borocay to the south. Tablas has retained its original character. The wildlife and landscape appear untouched as deep-green vegetation is crossed by rivers and streams. Tablas Island provides a variety of outdoor activities. Visitors can explore wonderful waterfalls and […]

Tablas – Philippines – Information

FEBRUARY 2016: Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I made my own way from Coron to Tablas Island. I had looked online for Tablas Island hotels but there weren’t many options; and, there were very few within my GRANDPAcking Budget. I decided not to book in advance and take a chance… WHAT YOU FIND ONLINE: I started my search about 1 week before my arrival. My search on BOOKING.COM returned only 2 results for my dates: the cheapest was US$42 / night (PHP2000). My search on AGODA.COM returned more properties but only one of those properties was less than US$30 / night (PHP1400). Please […]

Tablas – Philippines – Where To Stay

FEBRUARY 2016: INTRODUCTION: I was staying at the AGLICAY BEACH RESORT on Tablas Island. I was impressed by what I had found. The Aglicay was the best value for money accommodation that I had found in my 5 weeks in The Philippines so far. The room was a good size and clean; so was the ensuite. It had a lovely beach setting. However, when you use online search engines, there are very few Hotels listed for Tablas Island (less than 10). I wanted to know whether or not there were more such places around the island that were not on the internet… did […]

Tablas – Philippines – Around The Island ...

  FEBRUARY 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I had spent 6 nights at JIM’S CASTLE INN in Coron Town and 2 nights on an Apo Reef SCUBA Liveaboard. A total of 8 nights. I had seen what I wanted to see and learnt what I wanted to learn: Coron Town is not a GRANDPAcking Retirement location but GRANDPAckers can come here for a holiday and have lots of fun doing Coron on a GRANDPAcking Budget. It was time to move on to my next destination: Tablas Island. To get to Tablas, I needed to catch a ferry from Coron to […]

Coron – Philippines – To Tablas Island

FEBRUARY 2016: Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: I have already provided Information about Coron and the GRANDPAcking Costs. The Cost Of Existence (COE) in Coron Town comes out at 76% of a GRANDPAcking couple’s budget (US$41 out of a daily budget of US$52). This doesn’t leave much for LIVING. In this post, I suggest how GRANDPAckers can LIVE 10 nights in Coron on a GRANDPAcking budget of US$52 / day. To do so, GRANDPAckers need to compromise on the quality of their accommodation (but not too much)… GETTING THERE: I assume that you are in El Nido (the most likely place). If […]

Coron – Philippines – LIVING on a ...

FEBRUARY 2016: OVERVIEW: My costs start at the main Ferry Terminal 5kms from Coron Town and include: 1 night in a GRANDPAcking Standard Aircon Double Room 3 Days & 2 Nights on an Apo Reef SCUBA Diving Liveaboard; Drinks on board 5 nights in a BELOW GRANDPAcking Standard Double Fan Room with Shared Bathroom Food & Drink Mobile Data / Communications Visa cost apportionment Transport from Coron to San Jose, Mindoro CROSS REFERENCES: For more detail, read about Coron – Philippines – Information. Click here to read about Retirement Locations in this country. Click here for detailed Travel Information and more Travel Budgets in this country. Read About […]

Coron – Philippines – GRANDPAcking Costs

  FEBRUARY 2016:   Click here to read our Philippines Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: Coron Town is on Busuanga Island in the Calamianes group of islands north of mainland Palawan. In the Calamianes you will find palm-fringed powdery white beaches, crystal clear lagoons, stunning lakes and towering limestone karst. These islands are not as commercialized as its counterparts in Puerto Princesa, Port Barton, and El Nido. You don’t have to be in Coron Town for long to realise that the greed that now exists in El Nido hasn’t made it this far – yet. Let’s hope that it never does. GETTING THERE: Coron Town is […]

Coron – Philippines – Information