Our recent trip to Bohol is a testament that you don’t have to go far to see the most awesome places in the world.  While it’s exciting to circumnavigate the world,  I would wish to spend more time seeing (and writing about) the beauty of Philippines, afterall, we do have 7,641 islands to explore..

Why Travel Bohol

When you ask foreigners about Philippines, they would say they’re dying to see Palawan, Boracay or Cebu.  Bohol appears to be either unheard of or not on the top travel list.  Though seemingly underrated, Bohol has so much to offer —  not just white beaches, but also impressive man-made forest, relaxing river cruise, distinct culture and interesting history, oh and don’t forget the elusive tarsier!  As compared to Cebu, I feel like Bohol is more compact in terms of spots worth seeing — we only toured for two days and it’s as if we’ve seen a lot already.

Where to Stay

Since the main reason we wanted to visit Bohol is to hit the beach, I wanted to strike a balance between really having this vacation feel and yet not spending too much.  If you’re planning to stay at a beachfront resort in Alona Beach, having a fab vacation means you’ll be paying a lot for the accommodation.  We were just so lucky to have found Amarela Resort (I just stumbled upon this resort while browsing thru Agoda and all the feedback and comments about the resort were just crazy impressive!).

Inclusions: breakfast buffet, airport pickup (return), welcome drink, wi-fi

Hotel Features: Private beach, infinity pool, herb & vegetable garden, boutique, art gallery, library, water activities (kayaking and snorkeling)

 

This resort is very close to my heart because this is where we got engaged 🙂  — and to be honest, I can’t imagine getting engaged somewhere else..  Note:  If you are in a honeymoon or planning a wedding proposal, you can let them know and they can arrange a setup for you.

The Bohol House

We got the chance to meet the owner, Atty. Nunag, and he willingly gave us a tour of the Bohol House — we didn’t know there is even a private house with it’s own pool, veranda and fancy bathroom.  The moment we stepped in, we were already planning to go back so we could stay here.

Couple Goals:  We were fortunate enough to chat with the couple behind the resort and after the tour, we just couldn’t help but feel inspired.  They are both retired lawyers, and I recall the wife saying they ‘took a leap of faith’ because they had no background with the resort business at all..

Panglao Tour

We’ve asked the resort to arrange a Panglao Tour for us and to be able to maximize the time, we have scheduled it in the morning before the hotel check-in.

What to See	Hinagdanan Cave, Shell Museum, Alona Beach, Bohol Bee Farm
Duration	3 hours
Rate	P 1,875 (van for 12 adults)

To summarize Day 1, it’s great to maximize the vacation by: 1 – taking an early morning flight; 2 – going for a tour in the morning; 3 – explore and make the best use of the resort from check-in time 🙂