Philippines in Aug/Sep - Wet Season - Experienced Advice, Please

Lkaish1986 on 28/07/2024 - 09:39
Last edited 28/07/2024 - 10:02

Hi fellow OzB,

Long member, first timer asking for help.

I'm travelling with my wife to Phillipines in mid August to early September (little less than 3 weeks). I know it's wet season and hoping some of you might be able to provide some advice on how we can derisk our trip. I know we'll inevitably lose a day here and there with rain, our transport will be cancelled, tours will get cancelled so as such we're only booking first night of hotel have full flexibility to change itinerary (destinations, not overall trip duration) if there is a better suggestion.

Our tentative itinerary goes

Cebu 1 day
Puerto Princesa 4 days
El Nido 4 days
Bohol 4 days
Cebu 4 days

Any advice or tips whilst in there we would appreciate them and feel quite grateful.

Travel Asia Philippines

Comments

  • theHMASfriendship on 28/07/2024 - 09:45
    +2

    Any advice or tips whilst in there we would appreciate them and feel quite grateful.

    I’d bring an umbrella

    • Nillionaire on 28/07/2024 - 09:49
      +1

      Why? You can buy an umbrella there

  • star-ggg on 28/07/2024 - 10:46
    +2

    Make sure your travel insurance covers delays or cancellations due to natural disasters.

    • kaish1986 on 28/07/2024 - 12:10

      Thank you @star-ggg, planning to use the credit card's travel insurance but will have a look specifically at what is covered. Good reminder!

  • DirtySteve on 28/07/2024 - 11:31
    +5

    My first trip to Philippines was 10 years ago. Three out of four internal flights were cancelled, rendering the fourth flight [return flight] useless.

    My intention for that trip was to visit an old friend who had been living on the island of Camiguin for a number of years. His advice to me at the time was to “plan to get there today; but expect to get there tomorrow.”

    It was wise and accurate advice from my experience, and I have taken about 15 trips since then. I have visited all of the destinations you have mentioned and have enjoyed each of them. However, I feel your timeline is very tight.

    Unless you have a specific reason to go to Puerto Princesa, then I would drop that destination altogether. The Underground River is well worth the visit, but aside from that, I believe your time in PP would be better spent reallocated to El Nido and Bohol.

    The trip from PP to El Nido takes a day by van. I’m not certain if there are direct flights between the two nowadays; I don’t think there is. There was a typhoon on the day that I went from PP to El Nido. The rain was torrential at times, and therefore the trip was hazardous and dangerous. Along the way, we passed by another van load of travellers that had rolled over. It was a straight stretch of road, so speed (overtaking?) was to blame. If you do continue with your existing plan, then I recommend using DayTripper Palawan for the transfer, as they differentiate themselves on safety. Especially given, as you have noted, there is a high risk of rain. But again, I would suggest dropping that leg altogether.

    There is plenty to do in El Nido (boat trips) and Bohol (Countryside tour) and the townships themselves are fun to hang out in.

    Hope this helps. You should enjoy your trip no matter what the weather or destination.

    • kaish1986 on 28/07/2024 - 12:13
      +2

      Thank you! Dirty Steve, these are the type of comments and advice I was hoping to get.
      I'll take a note on PP and reassess.
      Sincere appreciation for taking the time to write all those details and trying to help, you're a good one!

      • DirtySteve on 28/07/2024 - 13:14
        +5

        If you are looking for a third destination, you could consider Boracay. You can do a one day trike trip around the island; but aside from that it is a tropical island resort holiday type of place. I get why some people don’t like it, but I went there again as recently as April and really enjoyed it.

        I would also consider shortening your stay in Cebu (if by Cebu you mean Cebu City itself). I’ve been there a few times but always struggle to find any real excitement. I actually prefer Manila. If you scratch the surface, Manila is quite a fun city.

        As an alternative, jump on a bus out of Cebu City heading south. A few hours down the road is the Simala Church. I’m not a church type of guy, but you can’t help but be blown away by this place. It’s like no church you have ever seen before. A few more hours further on is Oslob where you can swim with whale sharks. That’s an amazing experience.

        Continue south for another hour and you will get to the bottom of the island. Catch a half hour ferry and a short trike ride to Dumaguete, which is a nice coastal town (city?). From there you can get a boat over to the island of Siquijor for a day or two and then another boat to Bohol.

        For mine, that’s a much more exciting and enjoyable itinerary than four days in PP and four days in Cebu City. I have done exactly this, so I know it can be done and works. Planning is key, but remember to have an extra day or two in your pocket.

        • kaish1986 on 29/07/2024 - 17:43

          Thanks again! Those are pretty good ideas for my trip around Cebu. My flight back is from Cebu so thought it was better to avoid any potential flight cancellations on the days leading to the return.
          Very interesting suggestions, will definitely check them out.
          How did you go to all those places from Cebu? Did you get a tour, taxis or rented a vehicle?

  • MITM on 28/07/2024 - 11:31
    +1

    Have you been the news lately ? They've just had a typhoon go through the place. Might give you an idea. You're going to the very western islands - keep an eye out for Chineese warships on the horizon.

    • kaish1986 on 28/07/2024 - 12:15
      -3

      Yes, I've seen, I am aware this is typhoon season, will be monitoring the weather as we get closer to the date.
      Hoping the Chinese stay put for a longer!

  • randomusername2017 on 28/07/2024 - 12:21

    I'm travelling with my wife to Phillipines

    • DirtySteve on 28/07/2024 - 13:31

      I take your point, but…

      I had a night out with my wife in Soho, London

      My wife and I went drinking in Kings Cross

      I had some fun in St Kilda with my wife

      It happens the world over. Nothing unique about the Philippines.

  • Ryanek on 28/07/2024 - 17:00
    +1

    That's a really nice itinerary, I hope it goes well.

    Just a reminder to be cautious with the water. Malls and restaurants are fine, but definitely avoid drinks from street vendors etc. Make sure to bring Imodium tablets!

    • kaish1986 on 29/07/2024 - 06:50

      Thanks Ryanek! Can't forget the Imodium tablets, always carry them with me any time I visit SEA.

  • Mark1159 on 29/07/2024 - 11:32

    Currently in mountainous Baguio, north Luzon.

    I lived in Vietnam 8 years prior to Covid. Vietnam is much better. I tell everyone not to bother with Philippines. It’s not worth it.

    Vietnam has had the crap bombed out of them, English is not their first language yet it runs so much easier.

    Everything is such a hassle in Philippines

    • singlemalt72 on 29/07/2024 - 11:58

      I'm down the hill in Bauang for a few more days!
      Agree - I find the Philippines the most frustrating country in SEA.
      Vietnam, Thailand and day over PH.

      • kaish1986 on 29/07/2024 - 17:46

        What is it about Philippines that you find so frustrating? Singlemalt72.

        • singlemalt72 on 30/07/2024 - 10:38

          Accommodation is stupidly overpriced and sub-standard
          Jeepney travel is neck-breaking for anyone over 5"11'
          food is over priced (often more expensive than Australia)
          The red-tape required by government departments is mind-blowingly over the top, difficult and generally pointless.

          Of course there are beautiful places to visit and the people are wonderful, hell, I married one of them! but I simply enjoy other SEA countries so much more

          • kaish1986 on 30/07/2024 - 13:42

            @singlemalt72: Interesting!
            I have noticed it's nowhere as cheap as I was initially expecting (Vietnam prices rather than Tai). Unfortunately, with so much uncertainty of how the weather will be like and the possible impact to our plans, it's going to be more expensive.
            I would've never expected food to be as expensive as here.

    • kaish1986 on 29/07/2024 - 17:45

      Interesting. Thanks for the feedback Mark, I also loved Vietnam when I visited many years ago, we've been in many of the SEA and overall the feedback about Philippines was so good that we've been wanting to go for a while.

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