FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - One Week in the Philippines?
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Old Oct 23, 2014 | 7:49 am
  #3  
RevJim
1M40 Countries Visited20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CEB & LAS
Programs: CX GO, TSA Pre✓ Afflictions: TSASS
Posts: 735
You are asking a pretty big, vague question, so here are some general thoughts...

The biggest holy week party is on Bantayan Island. Typically Filipinos go there because a Catholic Pope gave them permission to eat meat while all the rest of the Catholics are supposed to be giving up meat (read the story here). Nowadays it's just an excuse for a big party week. If you are into huge fiestas and dancing and all that, go there.

For nice beaches, definitely go to Boracay, they will also be having big celebrations that week and lots of fun. I would strongly recommend reading Eightblack's epic Boracay vacation thread here. Get an outdoor massage on the beach, rent the dune buggies, try some of those boat-towed rides.

Cebu is a big place and will be less crowded as the people are spread around different cities. You might try Malapascua Island in the north for scuba diving, nice beaches, etc. I usually stay at Exotic Beach Resort there, which is one of the more expensive hotels on the island, but the only one with a private beach. When booking a hotel in Malapascua make sure and ask if they have 24-hour air conditioning in the rooms because not all of them do. And it will be hot. Also Oslob in the south for snorkeling with whale sharks and Moalboal for scuba. That's right near the Kawasan Falls too which is a fun hike. And if you are down that end of Cebu you might want to visit Dumaguete for a change of scenery. I recommend Liquid Dumaguete for a place to stay there.

If you head to Cebu PM me and I will hook you up with a reliable driver if you need one. Holy week is no time to be taking public transport in the Philippines.

Enjoy your trip!

RJ
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