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Winter Vacation!!!
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Goodmango
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Hey travelfishers! I have really enjoyed this website and forum since I discovered it a couple days ago. I hope someone can help!
So here it is:
I start teaching in Busan SK in a week! We the have 9 days off starting december 24. My gf and I want to take a one week vacation somewhere hot with nice beaches and great food! We're thinking Thailand or Philipines....
So, keeping in mind we only have a week where would you recommends we go? I just read Cebu and Palawan are great, but want to know if there is anywhere else closer to mamilla that would be as good???
I want to keep transportation time to a minimum.
Thanks guys and girls! Any other tips would also be very welcome!!!
#1 Posted: 23/11/2011 - 15:29
goonistik
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Hmmm....somewhere close to Manila with beaches and great food. Nothing comes to mind right now.
There are direct flights from Busan to Cebu so that is your best bet. Besides, Anthony Bourdain rates it number one for roast pork (Lechon Cebu).
http://blog.travelchannel.com/anthony-bourdain/read/hierarchy-of-pork/
You can stay at Mactan Island if you don't want to travel any further. But these are probably the priciest.
But if you are willing to travel out of the city, look up Bantayan island. It takes about 3-4 hours to get there by land/ferry. I am not sure if there are flights to the island (25 minutes).
#2 Posted: 23/11/2011 - 21:25
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backpacker21
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I agree with goonistik! You may take a direct flight from Busan to Cebu. And from there you can take a side trip to Bohol, stay at Panglao Island even if it's just for a night given your tight schedule.
#3 Posted: 25/11/2011 - 06:39
Goodmango
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Thanks for the replies and good info!
Is Christmas a very busy and expensive time in Philipines? Should I book everything in advance? Any recomendations for places to stay under $50 CAD/night in Cebu and the other places that were recommended?
#4 Posted: 25/11/2011 - 08:51
gwapo
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There are also direct flights from Korea to Kalibo,the nearest international airport to Boracay.
However you may be struggling to find a place on the island during Christmas time and indeed you may feel that you are still in Korea as Boracay resembles a sandy part of Seoul with signage in Korean and kimchi available everywhere....perhaps Cebu would be a better option and you will actually feel that you are on holiday from your host country
#5 Posted: 25/11/2011 - 10:11
Goodmango
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Haha interesting. A much hitter armed version of sandy Seoul I'd hope.... I can expect decent weather and a swim able ocean anywhere in the Philipines correct?
#6 Posted: 25/11/2011 - 11:49
goonistik
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December is peak season due to Christmas. Filipinos come home to sepnd the holidays with family, "snow birds" run to the Philippines to escape winter. Flights are fully booked, prices for accommodation goes up.
Ordinarily, December is one of the best months to visit the Philippines as the weather becomes cooler with clear skies. But this year has been wetter than usual due to the effects of La Niña. So you can probably expect sunny days to be interspersed with cloudy days.
Yes..you can swim in lots of places.
#7 Posted: 25/11/2011 - 18:41
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@goonistik Flights are fully booked ? im sure if i visit any of the airline websites now i could book a flight -u wont get any promo fares , @good mango -if u want to pm me i can give u some contacts in cebu /bohol -places to stay etc .
#8 Posted: 11/12/2011 - 05:17
peekel
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I agree with AbdulVal, Batangas and Puerto Galera are about 2 hours from Manila by bus. I suggest you guys can check out Dumaguete as well. The Apo reef is a great diving site and the place has a number of virgin white beaches. Dumaguete has a large community of foreigners as well. You can check out http://www.dumagueteoutdoors.com/, Angelo the owner is a great fun guy. I'm sure he'll be able to help you out. Enjoy and have a safe trip wherever you decide to go!
#9 Posted: 11/12/2011 - 07:00
gwapo
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You wont get to Puerto Galera from Manila in 2 hours.It takes almost 2 hours to get there from Batangas pier.Even with the recently completed expressway,2 hours from Manila to Batangas is a little on the optimistic side during the festive season.PG is full of Koreans who patronise the many Korean owned resorts and nightspots in and around Sabang. The OP is working in Korea so perhaps this venue would be inappropriate if a change of scenery is the intention.
I agree that Dumaguete may be a good option and certainly a good jumping off point for Siquijor and the beaches around San Juan
#10 Posted: 11/12/2011 - 10:23
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Hi goodmango!
Any updates on where you finally went to?
#11 Posted: 20/4/2012 - 04:35
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travelinasia
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Somewhere close to Manila would be Ilocos Norte (Vigan), You can also fly down to Naga and visit Cam Sur (Caramoan Islands specifically - it is very lovely there), of course there's Cebu, Palawan, Boracay and such.
#12 Posted: 22/9/2012 - 09:16