Bohol Trip Day 1: Alona Beach, Panglao

Bohol is one of the top tourist destinations in the country. Aside from the beach, the countryside of Bohol has a lot of sights to offer. The tourism industry in the province is also highly developed. The people are aware of their Bohol's place in the tourism market. Transportation and communication are easy. In fact, the major tourist spots in Bohol are already modernized without losing its natural beauty. This means, you can still see the beauty of its natural resources along with modern conveniences.

My fiance and I went to Bohol last November for our anniversary. Our first stop was in Alona Beach, Panglao. According to the locals, a Filipina actress named Alona shot some scenes in that place. After that, the locals began callng it Alona beach. Wow! Imagine, a beach strip named after you.

We left Manila at around 9 am and arrive at Tagbilaran Airport around 10:30. Tagbilaran is Bohol's capital. We were supposed to be met by a shuttle from the hotel but I think they forgot which isn's a problem. In front of the airport are many transportation services. We rented an Adventure to take us to Tawala, Panglao. This is where the famous Alona Beach is located. This costs P500 for two. If there are 4 or 6 of you, you can avail it at P700. These are standard prices. There are also habal-habals which you can rent for P250.

It took us more than an hour from the airport to get to our hotel- Paragayo Resort. The hour-long trip gave us a scenic view of Bohol countryside. What I noticed with this place are the big houses with spacious yards. The driver said that since Bohol is not frequently visited by typhoons, the locals can invest in making their houses grand.

sand and sea at Alona Beach, Bohol

We arrived at Paragayo Resort at around noon. We made online reservations. The staff quickly helped us settle in our room. For a more comprehensive description of the resort: http://bitsandpieces-fvitz.blogspot.com/2011/04/paragayo-resort-bohol-review.html. We rested for a few minutes before walking towards the beach front of Alona Beach. The hotel is about 5 minutes away from the beach. This is where we ate lunch. Note that food in Alona Beach is pricey. If you're on a budget, eat at the restos along the street. Also note that drinking water is not free even in restaurants. We had to buy bottled water even when we dined in their restaurants. We allotted around P300-P500 for each meal. This is good for 2 to 3 people only.

After lunch, we explored the beach line on foot. The shoreline is a bit disappointing because the hotels and resorts are too close to the beach. Boats are also scattered along the shores. There are also a lot of sea grass and weeds. But the sand is white although a bit rocky.

view from the rock at the right end of Alona Beach

On the right side of the beach strip , facing the sea, is a small cove where there is more privacy and no hotels in sight. Locals tend to swim in this part of the beach because there's an uphill path that leads to the highway. On the other end of the beach is the Alona Tropical Beach Resort. Another resort is the area is the Lost Horizon Resort.

the other ed of Alona Beach, near Alona Tropical Resort

We stayed at the beach until 6 pm. Sunset is a colorful view in Bohol. We went back to the hotel to fix ourselves  for dinner. Dinner in Alona Beach is a quieter event in comparison with Puerto Galera and Boracay.  We ended our first day with star gazing along the beach shore.

Beach Resort in Bohol: Dumaluan

Dumaluan Beach Resort is located in Libong Beach, Panglao a few kilometers away from Tawala. Tawala is the place of the more known Alona Beach. There are actually two Dumaluan Resorts. During our 4-day stay in Bohol late last year, we stayed in the bigger one- Dumaluan 2. Dumaluan 1 and 2 are owned by siblings.

The road to Dumaluan from the highway is a bit rough and deserted.  It is about an hour from Tagbilaran airport. You need to have some transpo arrangements esp. when you're going in groups. Boholanos travel using motorcycles. The resort has wide open spaces. Different types of accommodations are scattered all over the place. There's also a big pool where you can swim until 10 in the evening. There's also a large space for sports activities. 

standard room

Photo Credit: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ReviewPhotos-g1036817-d1190725-r68486774-Dumaluan_Beach_Resort_2-Panglao_Island_Bohol_Province_Visayas.html#25978312

We reserved a standard room for one night which costs P1300. It's a spacious Bali-type room complete with wall lamps giving the room a romantic glow. It has high ceilings with floor-foot French windows. It also has its own veranda. It's airconditioned but it has no TV. The only thing I didn't like about the room is its musty smell  which persists all throughout our stay. It was also very noisy because there was some renovations going on when we stayed there.

On the other hand, the CR looks old. It's clean but the mirror and ceiling are a bit dilapidated. There's no hot water. Tiles are also old. But they offer soap and shampoo. 

shoreline in dumaluan

The best thing about the resort is its shoreline and the view. The shore is clear without the obstructions of boats. Sand is white and fine. Water is clear. It actually shares the same shoreline with Bohol Beach Club. Bohol Beach Club is a luxurious resort such as those featured in http://www.ensogo.com.ph. 

dumaluan shoreline

They also have a restaurant which has a live band at night. The restaurant is pricey so if you want to eat for a cheaper cost, you may go to Dumaluan 1 which is beside Dumaluan 2. They have more food stalls there that are cheaper. 

So if you want some relaxation, a time for reflection and a space for retreat, consider Dumaluan Resort as a place to stay. 

Zambales Resort: Canoe Beach Resort, San Antonio

Canoe Beach Resort is located in Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales. It is an hour away from the well-known Anawangin Cove via boat ride. This resort stands along with other resorts. What makes this a hidden getaway is the fact that this its not easy to find the website in the internet. I learned about this by patiently scourging the net for a budget resort. Usually, search results would give you Nora's and Patio Inn.

What makes this resort attractive for me is the fact that it has a pool. The beach in San Antonio is not as iniviting. The sand is grayish, the water is dark and the waves are big. A lot of boats are also docked along the shore. You have to go to the nearby coves to really enjoy the tropical beach ambience. So with its pool, one can satisfy the desire for swimming.

the pool area with poolside family rooms

When I went there last summer, I made early reservations through e-mail. They replied within the day. You can also make reservations through phone. You have to pay half of the amount through their BPI account.
We rented an airconditioned room good for two that costs P1300. This room is facing the beach but the cottages in front of the rooms block the view. It has its own private veranda.

cottages for day trips

The room is very basic- comfortable bed and a clean CR. The lighting is just a bit dim. No frills! You could actually have the room at a cheaper price if you tell them that you would want a fan room. The management would not just activate the aircondition system.

Their pool is also clean and medium-size. There's also a kiddie pool at the other end of the pool. Water is warm so you can swim even until late at night. Night swimming is until 11:00 pm as long as you won't be too noisy.

view on the beach of San Antonio

Staff if okay. They're accommodating enough but not very friendly. They serve food at a reasonable price.

If you're travelling through public transpo, you have to walk for about 5 to 10 minutes from the resort to the main road to get a tricyle. Just tell the driver to drop you at the Municipal Hall where you can get a bus ride to Manila.

For more information: http://www.freewebs.com/canoeresort/rooms.html

PHOTO CREDITS:

http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/2545553/Explore+ZAMBALES
http://www.adventuresportsholidays.com/all/canoe-beach-resort-antipolo-199026.php