Province of Bohol Hotel Tips by GenuinelyCurious

Vest Pension: Pleasant, but a little out of the way

A very pleasant and well-maintained facility. Amenities include hot water, cable TV, air-con and in-room free wi-fi all for 900 pesos. They nicely provide free pickup and delivery to the Taglibaran ferry. The staff was easy to deal with and generally knowledgeable.

My only complaint was they steered me to the touristy roadside tarsier viewing locations instead of the sanctuary. That mistake ended up costing me many precious hours. In discussing it with the manager, we concluded that she and her staff would be a little more clear to the tourists about what they were recommending.

Unique Qualities: Free wi-fi

Address: Tablot Street, Tagbilaran

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$20

Theme: Hotel

Where to stay in Bohol: Location, location, location

Bohol’s two main tourist enclaves are Taglibaran town and Alona Beach on nearby Panglao Island. On the map, these are close by one another. In practice, the logistics of ground travel are slow and/or relatively expensive.

I followed the Lonely Planet guide’s advice to base myself because I was interested in both diving and visiting the interior. In some ways, this was the worst of both worlds. Although my accommodation was fine (see Vest Pension tip), it was remote enough to always require transportation.

Jeepney to Alona Beach: 20 pesos and 90 minutes. Motorcycle return: 150 pesos and 30 minutes. Trike: 200 pesos and 30 minutes. Forget taxis. They automatically double the already high rates to about 500 pesos with the excuse that there are no passengers on the other end.
If I had it to do over, I would probably base myself in Alona Beach. The pleasant white sand/ blue water setting is a bit remote, but it’s easier to find restaurants, etc. It will make a longer and more expensive trip to the interior, but how often will you do that? Plus, the overall time is more relaxing.

Comparison: about average

Price: less than US$20

Theme: Pension/Guesthouse