Cebu: Queen City of the South (Bantayan Island)

Feb 26 - 27, 2011

this trip was spent with my chicas. our first out of town get together this year. we booked our flights way back from last year. thank you to airphil promo, we finally explored cebu together. :)

i've been meaning to explore bantayan island and was happy i got to include it in our itinerary. though, we only spent 1 night in bantayan.

photo credits to my fabulous friends :) cheers to forever friendship! :)

with my chicas at d' jungle

GETTING TO/FROM/AROUND

Mactan International Airport to Hagnaya Port via taxi - 1600 php/ one way

*we were supposed to go to north terminal to catch the bus ride going to hagnaya but the taxi offered to drive us to hagnaya port for 2000 php. we haggled and agreed on 1600 php rate. we let the meter running and it only cost 1279 php.

Hagnaya Port to Bantayan Island via Ferry - 170 php/pax

150 php - ordinary class (non-aircon)
170 php - first class (aircon)

10 php - terminal fee

*we decided to avail of their first class seats because we wanted to be comfortable during the 1 hour ferry ride. for ordinary class seats, they have monoblock chairs for seating. for first class seats, they have cushion seats. good decision to be in first class as the ride was terrible. felt like we were at anchor's away. we tried to slept all through out the ride.

hagnaya port

 ferry (enclosed are is the first class; open area is the ordinary class)

first class seats

Sta. Fe, Bantayan Port to Budyong Resort via resort's shuttle service - free!

*a pink shuttle service was waiting for us as we disembarked from the ferry. bad trip lang because the "manong" of budyong resort asked us 10 php for the shuttle's parking fee. hay naku!

around bantayan town - walk

*we opted not to have a land tour of the island. we just walked from the resort going to restaurants (d' jungle, marisquiera)

Budyong Resort to Sta. Fe, Bantayan Port via padyak - 20 php/pax

*we were informed that the resort's shuttle service charges 20 php/pax to avail of transfers going to the port. free transfer only applies from port going to resort. since the shuttle left us, we rode padyak going to the port.

Bantayan Island to Hagnaya Port via Ferry - 170 php/pax

150 php - ordinary class (non-aircon)

170 php - first class (aircon)

5 php - terminal fee (ticketing area)

5 php - tereminal fee (prior to riding the ferry)

*good thing we availed the first class seats as when we reached the ferry, they no longer accepts passengers as the ferry was full already but i insisted that we were on first class and there were still available seats. whew!

Hagnaya Port to SM Cebu via bus - 83 php/pax

* sadly, no van shuttle available and taxi was way over our budget so we all decided to ride ceres bus bound to sm cebu. it took as 3 1/2 hours. elbow bus experience was exhausting. windows were closed because of the rain and it was kinda hot inside plus we encountered men lighting cigarettes and passengers with chickens.haha!

ACCOMMODATION

we spent 1 night at Budyong Resort. we called to reserve a room for our travel date.

as of this entry, here are the rates that were given to us:

beach front fan room (2 big beds, private bathroom, TV) - 1000 php/night

beach front fan room

non beach front aircon room (2 big beds, private bathroom, no TV) - 1500 php/night

non beach front aircon room

we did ocular inspection for both rooms and then we finally decided to get the aircon room. despite the "non beach front" description, beach was a couple of steps from our cottage so it was ok.

here's my overall review of the resort:

PROs

• room is clean and wide
• resort environment is relatively clean and well maintained
• near to the beach
• has own veranda
• aircon is cool

CONs

• no TV
• staff (receptionist and caretaker) is rude and impolite
• short shoreline
• resort to port transfer is NOT free

*shoreline was short but since kota beach resort was the neighboring resort, we just crossed over to stay at their sand bar.

the resort

budyong resort's beach shore

kota beach shore

TOUR

the resort's annoying caretaker "kuya eddie" offered us island hopping tour for our next day. he quoted us 1500 php for the 2 islands. 300 php entrance fee was not included in the total. we bargain until we reached 1300 php inclusive of the entrance fee. and then he asked for a deposit. he told us, the boat will buy gas. so we gave him 500 php.

the following day, dark clouds were looming at the sky and it started drizzling. we were informed that the island hopping will continue. we hopped on the boat and then suddenly it rained! the waves were freaking scary and we're having showers inside the boat. it totally scared the shit out of us. we then decided to go back to resort. we opted not to get the 500 php anymore.

overall thought: EPIC FAIL! haha :))

ITINERARY

here's our condensed itinerary...

day 1 - Feb 26

7:35 am - 8:45 am: manila to cebu via airphil
9:00 am - 11:00 am:  cebu airport to hagnaya port via taxi
11:30 am - 1:00 pm: hagnaya to bantayan island via ferry
1:00 pm: check in budyong resort
2:00 pm: late lunch at marisqueira restaurant
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm: beach bumming
7:00 pm: dinner at d' jungle

day 2 - Feb 27

8:00 am - 9:00 am: island hopping (epic fail)
9:00am: brunch at budyong resort
11:00 am: check out budyong resort
11:30 am - 12:45 pm: bantayan island to hagnaya via ferry
1:15 pm - 4:45 pm: hagnaya to sm cebu via bus

COSTING

this excludes plane fare...

FOOD

a gastronomical review will be posted on my next entry

FASHION TIP/S

since travel time is quite long and a lot of transfers were needed for this trip, i opted to wear something loose and comfy.

NAIA Terminal 3

*for more details

look from bantayan island back to cebu city

*excuse my haggard look. the 3 1/2 hours bus trip really drained the freshness in me.haha!

and since i'm still nursing sunburns from my previous trip, i opted to wear something oversized and something that would cover my arms.

boyfie's oversized blue polo shirt

shirt dress

*for more details

Final Thoughts about Bantayan Island

it is a quite long trip to reach bantayan island. the island is actually nice and serene. perfect for soul searching, couple get away and barkada bonding. for me, an overnight trip is enough if you just want to experience lounging at the beach and spending quality time with your self or with your loved ones.

bantayan's sand is not as powder-y like in boracay and panglao island in bohol. the beach kinda reminds me of cabilao island in bohol. white sand with huge waves.hehe.

i will definitely go back again just because of the failed island hopping in virgin island.haha!