I know I'm not done with my Taiwan series yet, but after watching Fresh off the Sea in Calape, a Korean travel variety show filmed in Bohol, I couldn't resist revisiting our own trip. Watching four Korean celebrities experience the island's laid-back countryside reminded me of our memorable family vacation there two years ago.
At that time, my mom was spending a few months in the Philippines, so we wanted to make the most of her stay with another domestic trip. She had already enjoyed her first adventure outside Luzon when we visited Davao in 2023, so it was time for a new destination.
Since we were traveling with two senior citizens, we wanted a place that offered a good balance of sightseeing and relaxation. I narrowed our choices down to destinations my husband and I had already visited, including Coron and Bohol.
Because this was a last-minute trip, I expected airfare to be expensive. After comparing flights, Bohol turned out to be the more affordable option. I booked our round-trip Philippine Airlines tickets from Manila to Tagbilaran just a few weeks before departure for PHP 9,430 per person.
At that time, my mom was spending a few months in the Philippines, so we wanted to make the most of her stay with another domestic trip. She had already enjoyed her first adventure outside Luzon when we visited Davao in 2023, so it was time for a new destination.
Since we were traveling with two senior citizens, we wanted a place that offered a good balance of sightseeing and relaxation. I narrowed our choices down to destinations my husband and I had already visited, including Coron and Bohol.
Because this was a last-minute trip, I expected airfare to be expensive. After comparing flights, Bohol turned out to be the more affordable option. I booked our round-trip Philippine Airlines tickets from Manila to Tagbilaran just a few weeks before departure for PHP 9,430 per person.
Staying at Bellevue Bohol Resort
For our accommodation, I chose Bellevue Bohol Resort in Panglao. They were offering a PHP 23,999 nett package for a two-night stay that included:
Buffet breakfast for two
Round-trip airport transfers
PHP 1,500 tour rebate
One-hour full-body massage for two at Azurea Spa
Instead, I booked a Deluxe Room for PHP 9,500 per night, with an additional PHP 2,500 per night for an extra person. Since I'm not really into spa treatments and we had already planned to book our tours through another travel agency, the regular room rate worked better for us.
Our room rate included:
Daily buffet breakfast for two
Complimentary round-trip airport shuttle
Use of the swimming pool and gym
Free kayak use
Access to the game room
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Welcome drinks
Access to the children's activity center
Day 1: Manila to Tagbilaran
Our trip didn't exactly start as planned. We arrived at the airport before 6:00 AM, only to find out that our flight had been moved to 12:00 noon. Spending six extra hours at the airport wasn't ideal, but Philippine Airlines provided Chickenjoy meals as compensation.
Fortunately, we had intentionally kept our first day free, so the delay didn't affect our itinerary.
By the time we arrived in Bohol, it was already check-in time. After settling our bill, we headed straight to our room, where we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the hotel had upgraded us.
That evening, we treated ourselves to Bellevue's Luau Night Buffet, which cost PHP 1,288 per person.
Planning Our Bohol Tours
On my previous visit to Bohol, I promised myself that I would include island hopping the next time I returned. However, since we were traveling with two senior citizens who preferred a slower-paced vacation, we decided to skip it this time.
Initially, I planned to book our tours through Klook, but the available options were mostly limited to the standard Countryside Tour and Panglao Tour. A few days before our trip, I came across Happy Trails and Tour, whose itinerary suited us much better.
We booked a private package that combined the Bohol Countryside Tour and Panglao + South Farm + Abatan Firefly Tour.
For our group of five, the package cost PHP 4,588 per person, which included:
Private transportation
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Entrance fees
Resort pick-up and drop-off
I paid a 50% deposit to secure the reservation and settled the balance after the tours.
Looking back, I couldn't help but remember my first visit to Bohol in 2007, when renting a car for the Countryside Tour only cost us around PHP 2,000. Times have certainly changed.
Day 2: Bohol Countryside Tour + Mirror of the World
Our guide picked us up at 8:30 AM for a full day of exploring Bohol's most iconic attractions.
Our itinerary included:
Blood Compact Shrine
Baclayon Church
Tarsier Sanctuary
Loboc River Cruise with buffet lunch
Bilar Man-Made Forest
Chocolate Hills
Mirror of the World
The tour lasted around eight hours and offered a great introduction to Bohol's history, culture, and natural beauty.
Day 3: Panglao, South Farm, and Firefly Watching
Our second tour started at 2:00 PM and lasted around six hours.
We visited:
Panglao Church and Watchtower
Hinagdanan Cave
Dauis Church
South Farm
Abatan River
Firefly watching by boat
It was a more relaxed itinerary, making it ideal for our family. The peaceful boat ride along the Abatan River, surrounded by glowing fireflies after sunset, was easily one of the highlights of our trip.
Day 4: Tagbilaran to Manila
Since our flight back to Manila wasn't until the evening, we considered exploring more of Bohol on our own. In the end, we decided to simply enjoy the resort instead.
We joined one of Bellevue's complimentary activities, a 20-minute glass-bottom boat ride, before having lunch at the hotel.
After checking out, we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the lobby until it was time to head to the airport.
Unfortunately, our return flight was delayed once again. This time, though, there was no complimentary meal waiting for us.
Despite the flight delays, our four days in Bohol turned out exactly as we had hoped: a slow-paced, enjoyable vacation that allowed everyone, especially our senior travelers, to appreciate the island without feeling rushed.
In my upcoming posts, I'll be sharing more detailed guides and experiences from each day of our Bohol adventure.
