Showing posts with label boat tour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label boat tour. Show all posts

July 27, 2026

Day 4: Last Day in Bohol - Tagbilaran to Manila

A Slow and Relaxing Final Morning in Bohol
 
Our last day in Bohol had finally arrived. Since our flight back to Manila wasn't until the evening, we still had enough time to explore. We considered visiting a few more places, but in the end, we chose to slow down and simply enjoy everything the resort had to offer. Looking back, it was the perfect way to end our trip.


 
The morning greeted us with cloudy skies, but the weather didn't stop us from making the most of our last day. We had an early breakfast because our complimentary Glass Bottom Boat Ride at The Bellevue Resort started at 8:00 AM.



 
Complimentary Glass Bottom Boat Ride at The Bellevue Resort
 
Although we arrived on time, we had to wait for our turn since we were the second group in line. The boat ride lasted around 20 minutes and gave us a glimpse of Bohol's colorful coral reefs and marine life without having to get into the water. It's a great activity for anyone who wants to experience the beauty of the sea but isn't comfortable snorkeling.





After the boat ride, we spent the rest of the morning enjoying the beach and the pool. Since check-out wasn't until 12:00 noon, there was no need to rush. We simply soaked in the peaceful surroundings, appreciating every last moment of our stay.


A Surprise Birthday Celebration at The Bellevue Resort
 
After checking out, we left our luggage at the concierge and decided to have lunch at the resort. With plenty of time before our flight, we enjoyed a leisurely meal and even ordered dessert.


I had brought my husband's birthday cake topper with me, planning to use it for our dessert. Little did I know that the staff had noticed it. A few minutes later, they surprised us with a complimentary birthday cake, complete with a lively birthday song, tambourines, and even a dance performance. Around seven staff members joined the celebration, turning an ordinary lunch into one of the most memorable moments of our trip. It was thoughtful, heartfelt, and something we'll never forget.
 
Flying Home from Bohol
 
After lunch, we relaxed in the lobby while waiting for our airport transfer. We left the resort at around 5:30 PM and headed to the airport, where we bought a few last-minute pasalubong before making our way to the boarding gate.



Our flight was delayed, so we didn't arrive home until after midnight. It had been a long day, but it was the kind of journey that leaves you happily exhausted.
 
A Meaningful Return After 17 Years
 
Returning to Bohol after 17 years reminded me that travel isn't just about revisiting places; it's about experiencing them with the people who matter most. My first trip here marked the beginning of a chapter with my husband. This time, we returned with our son and family, creating new memories together.
 
The island has changed over the years, but its beauty remains timeless. As we flew home, we weren't just bringing back souvenirs; we were carrying home stories, laughter, and memories that made returning to Bohol even more meaningful.
 
Read: 4 Days in Bohol
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July 15, 2026

4 Days in Bohol with Senior Citizens: A Relaxing Family Getaway Itinerary

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.


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.

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July 03, 2026

Day 3 in Calaguas: Island Hopping, Hidden Views, and Strong Currents

It was our second full day in Calaguas Island. Since breakfast was scheduled at 7:00 AM, we spent the early morning exploring the nearby resorts and visiting a small sari-sari store to buy souvenirs. We also stopped by the famous sandcastle with the "I Love Calaguas" sign, where visitors can take photos for PHP30 per person.

 
After breakfast, we got ready for our island-hopping adventure. Honestly, the beach in front of Calaguas White Sand Resort was already so beautiful that some members of our group were hesitant to join the tour. But I convinced them that Calaguas isn't the easiest destination to visit, and we never know if we'll have the chance to come back. Since we didn't have any other plans for the day, it felt like a missed opportunity if we skipped island hopping.
 
Because of our late decision, we missed the joiner tour, which costs PHP500 per person. Instead, we booked a private island hopping tour for PHP5,000. Although it was more expensive, we appreciated the flexibility of having our own boat. We could decide where to go, how long to stay, and when to move to the next destination.

 
Our island hopping itinerary included:
 
Balagbag Island (PHP75 entrance fee)
Sandbar
Snorkeling site near Balagbag Island
 
We left the resort at around 9:20 AM, a little later than planned, and headed first to Balagbag Island. You can already see the island from Calaguas, making it an inviting first stop.

Balagbag Island has a different kind of beauty compared to Calaguas. The sand isn't as powdery white, but the island offers a scenic trekking trail leading to a beautiful viewpoint. The climb isn't particularly easy, especially for senior citizens, but the view from the top makes the effort worthwhile.





 
After the trek, we cooled down with fresh coconut juice for PHP50 before spending a few more minutes enjoying the beach.
 
Our next destination was the sandbar. Before the trip, I imagined something similar to the sandbar we visited in Camiguin, but this one was quite different. It rained while we were on the way, but thankfully, the skies cleared just as we arrived. We were able to explore the sandbar and take plenty of photos before moving on.



 
Originally, we planned to return to the resort for lunch before snorkeling. However, we decided to continue with the itinerary since the snorkeling site was close to both Balagbag Island and Calaguas. We figured it would be better to finish everything in one trip.

Our final stop was the snorkeling site. My immediate family had tried snorkeling before, but for some of our relatives, it was their first experience. Unfortunately, the water current was very strong that day, making it difficult to fully enjoy the activity. Even with life jackets, it felt more like survival swimming because the current kept pulling us away.
 
Although we didn't get the snorkeling experience we had hoped for, we still had fun floating in the clear blue water and enjoying the scenery. We didn't stay long since lunch at the resort was only available until 2:00 PM.


We returned to the resort at around 1:30 PM for a late lunch. After lunch, we rested for a while before heading back to the beach for a late afternoon swim. We waited until the sun was lower, making it much more comfortable to swim without the midday heat. It was also a nice way to pass the time while waiting for the electricity to come back on at 6:00 PM. We wanted to enjoy every last moment in Calaguas before leaving the following day.
 
Our Meals for Day 3

Breakfast: Fried rice, Sunny-side-up egg, Danggit, Longganisa, Salted egg, Coffee
Lunch: Fried fish, Chicken tinola, Pinakbet, Pineapple
Merienda: Turon
Dinner: Grilled chicken, Chopsuey, Squash soup, Watermelon

 
Looking back, booking the private island hopping tour turned out to be worth it. Despite the stronger currents while snorkeling, we enjoyed discovering another side of Calaguas through Balagbag Island, the sandbar, and the freedom to explore at our own pace. Sometimes, the unexpected moments become just as memorable as the destinations themselves.
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June 21, 2024

7 Days Trip in Sydney Australia

Almost a year ago, Philippine Airlines had a Great Mabuhay Miles Getaway Sale so we checked their promo. We’ve been meaning to go back to Japan before the pandemic because we have a valid visa so we want to use it. Unfortunately, when we checked the promotion Japan has blackout dates. 

We were left with two choices which are Taiwan and Australia, but we took a risk with Australia even though we don’t have visas yet. My husband even called Mabuhay Miles while he was in Jakarta so we spent thousands on that international call because we had no idea about a toll-free number. But at the end of the day, we were still happy because even though we added the phone bill, mura pa rin yung airfare namin, kapresyo lang ito ng Davao trip ko.

After purchasing our plane ticket, I bought our travel insurance and started searching about “How to Apply for Australian Tourist Visa” in the Philippines. 


Two months before our flight, we booked our hotel and I chose Hyde Park Inn because of the good reviews, location and it has its own kitchen. 


When I applied for our visa, this is my submitted itinerary 

Day 1: Manila to Sydney Flight 
Day 2: Explore Chinatown 
Day 3: Sydney Tour 
Day 4: Bondi Tour 
Day 5: Blue Mountain 
Day 6: Taronga Zoo + Luna Park 
Day 7: Sydney to Manila 

But during our trip, there are a few changes. We did not go to Chinatown anymore because we discovered that there were few tourist spots that we could visit near our hotel. We no longer visited Luna Park because we were so tired already. 

Day 1: Manila to Sydney Flight 

On the day of our trip, our internet connection was fixed after one week of no connection so I was cramming. This was the only time that I purchased our tour tickets via Klook. I printed our vouchers and off we went to NAIA. We checked in, ate dinner, and waited for our flight. The flight is on time.

Sydney Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tours (Open-Top) - Essential Ticket 48hrs 
Taronga Zoo and Sydney Harbour Hopper Ticket - 1-Day Hopper Pass with Taronga Zoo Entry 
Blue Mountains Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Pass with optional Scenic World Tickets - Lyrebird Pass 

As of this writing, I couldn’t find the exact links of the activities I purchased and Klook is giving me these options. 



Manila to Sydney 8 hrs and 35 mins 


After 8 hours of traveling, we arrived at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport; we went to immigration, got our luggage, and went to customs. Then we went straight to the Airport Train Station and purchased our Opal Card here. 


We went to Hyde Park Inn to drop our luggage, ate lunch, and went back to the hotel for check-in. We took a rest and started to explore the tourist spots near the hotel or Museum Station like Hyde Park, Anzac Memorial, Australian Museum, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and from afar, we can see the Sydney Tower. 



I purchased a Big Bus Tour Sydney Hop On Hop Off ticket via Klook. This tour has 2 routes, Sydney Route and Bondi Route so I bought the 48-hour ticket to cover the two routes. 

For Day 3, we traveled to Circular Quay via train, and from the train station we just walked to the Big Bus. The duration of the Sydney Tour is 1 hour and forty-five minutes so we enjoyed the view while listening to the pre-recorded commentary. 


After the tour, we ate snacks and started our walking tour at the Sydney Opera House and Botanic Garden. Dito pa lang ubos na energy namin. 



Day 4 was another Hop On Hop Off Tour and we took the blue route which is the Bondi Tour. The first bus started at Central Station but we did not go there and just waited at the Australian Museum bus stop.

Australian Museum is a few minutes walk from our hotel so while waiting for 9:45AM, we visited Hyde Park, Hyde Barracks, and St. Mary’s Cathedral. 

The Bondi Tour duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes, there are 14 stops but we are only interested in Bondi Beach. We explored the beach, ate lunch, and waited for the bus so we could go back to Sydney.


We went back to our hotel for a quick rest then we went back to the Australian Museum Bus Stop so we could continue our Hop On Hop Off tour. We explored Darling Harbour Tourist Spots. 


We woke up early because we needed to be at the Central Station before 6:23AM. We wanted to ride the first train going to Katoomba Station. Travel time is 2 hours. 


I purchased the Lyrebird Pass which includes the Hop On Hop Off Bus and Scenic World Tickets. We had unlimited rides on the Scenic Skyway, Scenic Railway, Scenic Cableway, and Scenic Walkway.


I purchased the Taronga Zoo + Hopper Cruise ticket so we had a Taronga Zoo ticket, Round Trip Ferry Transfers, and 1 Day Access to Manly-Watsons Bay Ferry. We traveled to Circular Quay and walked to Wharf 6, this is where we are going to claim our ticket and ride our ferry. 


After exploring the zoo, we took advantage of the Hopper Cruise Tickets so we were able to visit Manly and Watson’s Bay. 


Since this would be our last time to tour, we spent more time in the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge before we went back to our hotel. 


Our Sydney to Manila flight was so early so after our breakfast, we checked out and traveled to the airport via train. Late nag-open ang check-in counter so natagalan kami sa pagcheck-in at sa Immigration. Nagmamadali kami sa pagkain ng lunch and pagbili ng last minute pasalubong. Nakakastress yung pauwi namin, parang kulang sa oras. 


Sydney to Manila 8 hrs and 15 mins  

Even though our last day was kind of stressful, I can still say that our Sydney Australia trip was a stress-free trip, why? We did not get lost. We were able to go from point A to point B without asking for directions. We did not miss rice because there was an Asian restaurant near our hotel. Our room has a kitchen so we were able to save money on food. The voucher tickets that I purchased saved me time in doing our itinerary. 

Sydney seems cashless society because some stores and restaurants do not accept cash. Good thing that our credit card did not fail us. Prior to our trip my husband went to the bank to buy Australian Dollars pa for our pocket money na hindi rin naman pala namin magagamit.Well, ginastos ko yung iba to buy pasalubong. 

And because of our stress-free trip, we planned to go back to Australia and visit another state. If money is not an issue, for sure nakabalik na kami kasi may valid visa pa kami kaso no budget pa. Hehehe!

Australia is the third continent that I have visited. 


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April 15, 2022

5 Days in Stockholm Sweden with Kid

Our Holy Week school vacation started last Saturday but unfortunately, we are stuck at home because of the rainy weather. Aside from the weather we did not plan any Holy Week trip, unlike our previous trips, we were in Røros, Norway and we had our Scandinavian Trip. I did not plan any trip because my husband was not with us, my mom’s health condition is uncertain and I’m hesitant to visit other Schengen States because of COVID19. 



Even though I did not plan anything, yesterday we had a Day Trip to Stugudalen and as usual, I will blog about that next time. Flashback Friday, so I’m just going to reminisce about our past Holy Week trip. Our Scandinavian trip, started in Elverum Norway, next is Copenhagen, Denmark and our third stop is Stockholm Sweden. There are different ways to travel to Sweden from Denmark, we can drive, we can fly, or we can take the bus or train. This time we chose train because I wanted to experience traveling to another country via train. Travel time is only 5 hours and 20 minutes so it is still time and cost-efficient. 



We took a taxi from Stockholm Central Train Station to reach Generator Stockholm Hotel because according to the map, it is almost 1 km away from the station. This hotel is also near Arlanda Express, restaurants, and some tourist spots. There is no guest kitchen but they have a restaurant, cafe, and bar. A convenience store is just in front of the hotel and there are restaurants within the area so you won’t starve.



5 Days in Stockholm Sweden

Day 1 in Stockholm Sweden 


Since we arrived late on our first day, we no longer have time to roam around. We just went out for dinner after our check-in and we immediately went back to our hotel to sleep. 


Day 2 in Stockholm Sweden 


I have limited time in planning for our Scandinavian trip so I have no itinerary for Stockholm Sweden. Just like in Copenhagen, we availed of the Stockholm Pass, which includes free admission to 45 popular tourist spots and free use of tourist buses and tourist boats. The sightseeing card includes Stockholm Pass Guidebook, which I also use to plan for our next day's trip. 

Day 2 Itinerary 

Drottningholm Palace 
Stockholm City Hall 
Stockholm Panorama Bus Tour 


We took the first boat trip to Drottningholm Palace and the first boat trip too to go back to Stockholm City Hall. The travel time is one hour per way. The place is big so if you want to maximize the trip, you need to take the first and last boat trip. But since we wanted to explore other places, we went back early. We did not bother to check the Stockholm City Hall since we wanted to avail the Stockholm Panorama Bus Tour. This tour gave us an idea of what to see and what to do in Stockholm Sweden. 


Day 3 in Stockholm

Our Stockholm Pass includes the free tourist bus but unfortunately, the bus did not arrive on time and we waited for over an hour. We wasted a lot of time waiting for the complimentary bus and we couldn't wait anymore so we just took a taxi so we can start our tour. At this moment, iniisip ko na sana hindi na lang ako nag-avail ng Stockholm Pass kung mapapagastos din naman pala kami sa taxi. And because of that, we only visited two tourist spots, Vasa Museum and Skansen. 


Skansen is an open-air museum and it is also big so we haven’t explored the whole place but we still enjoy our time in this museum. But if you have kids in tow, it is better to spend more time here so you can also join different activities for kids. 



Day 4 in Stockholm Sweden 

Day 4 was our last chance to explore Stockholm and we did not want to waste it anymore so we decided not to take the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus. It was a good decision because we were able to do a lot of activities.


Day 4 Itinerary 

Old Town Stockholm Tour 
Nobel Prize Museum 
Storkyrkan Stockholm Cathedral 
The Royal Apartments at The Royal Palace 
Three Crowns Museum 



Day 5 Stockholm Sweden to Oslo Norway 

You can travel to Oslo Norway from Stockholm Sweden via car, plane, bus, or train. We chose the SJ train again, unfortunately, there are only two train schedules so we chose the morning schedule which is 9:10AM. Travel time is around 6 hours. Since we’ve been walking a lot for the last few days, we did not take a taxi anymore and we just walked from Generator Stockholm to Stockholm Central Station with our luggage in tow. We had breakfast at McDonalds and went to the boarding gate to wait for our train.


Sweden is the first country where we did not use any cash, we just use our credit cards for everything even for the paid comfort rooms. For our Free Stockholm Tour, we gave different currencies for tips since the tour guide accepts any currencies. 


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