Part 1: A long, bumpy, butt-aching ride to Bantayan Island
The first leg of our week-long honeymoon trip is going to Bantayan Island, my father's hometown. I have some childhood memories here. i remember the white sand, the simplicity of life and some delicious food. It still feels the same, look the same, with some marks left by typhoon yolanda almost 10 weeks ago.
The first leg of our week-long honeymoon trip is going to Bantayan Island, my father's hometown. I have some childhood memories here. i remember the white sand, the simplicity of life and some delicious food. It still feels the same, look the same, with some marks left by typhoon yolanda almost 10 weeks ago.
Long stretch of the beach
the water is too clean and clear even fish loves to swim at the shore
We don't have any reservations, we want it spontaneous but romantic.
Since we are in a budget trip, we just got a fan room with just a private cr and a bed for just 500php at Budyong Beach Resort. it was really cheap but the resort was on the beach front with sandbar and sunrise/sunset viewing so we got more than what we paid for. the only problem here is low signal for sun cellular users. from port, the cost of transportation is 25/head thru tricycle, habayhabay or multicab. the resort is walking distance from sta.fe elementary school. we also rented a bicycle for 150/day.
Since we are in a budget trip, we just got a fan room with just a private cr and a bed for just 500php at Budyong Beach Resort. it was really cheap but the resort was on the beach front with sandbar and sunrise/sunset viewing so we got more than what we paid for. the only problem here is low signal for sun cellular users. from port, the cost of transportation is 25/head thru tricycle, habayhabay or multicab. the resort is walking distance from sta.fe elementary school. we also rented a bicycle for 150/day.
Budyong Beach Resort, Bantayan Island
there are a lot of restaurants in the town. from budget (carenderia) to expensive ones. for two person, we tried lechon manok at arjaymay sutukil for about 200php, chicken adobo at HR restaurant for around 200php.
on our 2nd day, we had a reservation at nordic inn thru agoda which cost us 800php for a fan room with cr and tv (still no reception due to typhoon yolanda). it is no beach front but short distance from the beach.
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tipidalert: at Bantayan Island, you can find cheap but good accommodation starts at 500php than reserving in agoda.com.
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we tried beef pochero at Coucou Bar, Hotel & Resort for about 300php including one platter of rice. it was the best pochero i tried so far. the ambiance is good plus there's a free wifi in the restaurant. as our last breakfast at Bantayan Island, we came back to Coucou bar for tinolang manok.
on our 2nd day, we had a reservation at nordic inn thru agoda which cost us 800php for a fan room with cr and tv (still no reception due to typhoon yolanda). it is no beach front but short distance from the beach.
****
tipidalert: at Bantayan Island, you can find cheap but good accommodation starts at 500php than reserving in agoda.com.
***
we tried beef pochero at Coucou Bar, Hotel & Resort for about 300php including one platter of rice. it was the best pochero i tried so far. the ambiance is good plus there's a free wifi in the restaurant. as our last breakfast at Bantayan Island, we came back to Coucou bar for tinolang manok.
yummy pochero and tinolang manok at Coucou Bar Restaurant
Going to Bantayan Island from Mactan Airport
(merely based on our travel experience)
(1) from the airport take a yellow multicab near in the departure area with a signboard "mercado". tell the driver to drop you off to marinal mall. there is a ride as early as 3:30am. landmark: MacDonalds and Starbucks. fare is 8php.
(2) from marina take a multicab with a signboard "highway". just tell the driver to drop you off where you can ride a multicab going to terminal. landmark: hotel with pagcor. fare is 9php.
(3) ride a multicab (we took a blue multicab) with signboard "terminal" etc and tell the driver your heading to north terminal. make it clear to the driver that it is NORTH TERMINAL since there is a south terminal too. fare is 8php.
(4) ride a bus going to Hagnaya (based on my research Ceres Bus are better than other bus liners). fare is about 130+ for non-aircon and 150+ for aircon. we took non-aircon since it was already departing. travel hours id about 4-5 hours. it will stop at the hagnaya port. earliest bus trip leaves by 4am.
(5) at the hagnaya port, take a ferry going to sta. fe for 170php and 10php terminal fee. they have an hourly trip. travel time is about 1 1/2 - 2 hours depending on the weather.
welcome to Bantayan island!!!
from the port you can take a multicab or tricycle going around sta.fe or bantayan for 25php/head or hire a habay habay (single motor) which usually costs 25/head for two passengers only.
twilight - just before the sunset
travel lesson tips:
a. budget accommodations ranges from 500php to 800php with just a a fan, shower and a bed.
b. mid-range restaurants, one order are usually good for 2 persons which on average costs 200php. a hundred lower for budget and few hundreds higher for expensive restaurants.
c. there are a fair bank at sta. fe which according to the owner of our accommodation charges 35php/transaction for other banks. there is also PNB in Bantayan near the city hall and catholic church, you just need to wait for the long queue (at least half an hour, it was a regular weekday during lunch).
d. there is a big grocery in Bantayan which only accepts cash.
catching the sunset at Bantayan Island
Had a happy trip.
Cheers!
JL
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