...for the love of Traveling

I've always been known to be a lakwatsera (I got it from my momma, LOL). Ever since I can remember, I've loved exploring new places and just getting out of the hotel for the most part makes me happy. I will try my best to go to different restaurants, and roam around as if I'm from there. I like walking. Getting lost was just part of the thrill. 


Shy as I am, I ask questions, from fellow travelers, from forums, and when I'm brave enough, once I'm there, from locals themselves. You just encounter the nicest and most helpful people when you greet them with a smile and show genuine curiosity.   


As an effort to give back, I started to write reviews about hotels, shared some tips about my adventures and recently, I've decided to join in forums. Little did I know that it will be appreciated in such a great way, and I received notes of thanks which I will forever treasure. 


This is currently making me smile most from ear to ear... =D

This has been included in the Top 10, yey!

    
Thanks Trip Advisor! I always check your site when I plan for my trips, and sometimes, even just to daydream about new vacation spots. I'm happy to know, that I can now also help others with my small contributions. It's the perfect way for me to give back. 


To my dear readers, if you also want to share your reviews or plan your travel, just visit the Trip Advisor site. 

ah-1, ah-2, a Station 3

We finally arrived in Cagban, hailed a tryc to take us to our hotel and agreed to the 100peso fare. With only a week of preparation we booked our hotel based on availability as most of the popular mid-priced hotels are already full. The reviews in Trip advisor aren’t the best, but we decided we’ll take a chance. Nevermind the bad reviews, it met our top three requirements for this trip, 1.beachfront,  2.aircon, 3.with wi-fi so we should be good. If all else fails, we’ll be out enjoying the sun and sand most of the time anyways. 

The tryc dropped us off at the end of the alley to Station 3, he gave us some instructions – “kaliwa ka dyan sa beach.” My mistake for assuming that the hotel will already be there when I “turn” left. Well it wasn’t, not yet. So we walked, and trekked. We’ve been to station 3 before and I don’t remember the resorts that we are passing, so I called Reception and told them we might be lost, described the resort in front of me and she assured me that we just need to go straight. Two resorts later, there it was – Arwana Hotel and Restaurant, yey! 

photo from MyBoracayGuide

So far, so good. The hotel matches the on-line photos, the restaurant looks promising. They served us welcome drinks and escorted us to our room. Hmm.. they said the hotel was just a couple of years old. Parang hindi. It does have potential, from outside it looks like a modern boutique hotel.  They just need to invest more on maintenance. 

Day 4: Home Bound

All good things must come to an end, and it’s time go home. If you’ve travelled via 2go going to Boracay, then you can consider yourself a pro now. *clap* *clap.* The home bound route is basically the Caticlan and Boracay bound posts in reverse.

Prepare the same things you’ve organized when you were Caticlan bound. 

click here if it’s you’re still a first timer to know what you need to have, and 

click here so that you can see my reminders

Since the departure time was still at 7pm, we requested for a late check out. They allowed us to stay up to 2pm. We had lunch and rented a tryc to get to the Cagban port around 3pm and paid 100pesos. 

When we got to the Cagban port the terminal was under construction, and they had make-shift counters on the right side if you are facing the building. Pay 25pesos for the pump boat and 100pesos for the terminal fee. Just behind you there’s a queue with a guy collecting the terminal fee stub. Walk straight and there will be someone directing you to the available boat and they will collect your boat stub. When you are walking into the boat, take a seat on the benches to your right to get the most shade from the sun (this is the left side once the boat moves to Caticlan).

Day 2: Boracay Bound

You are finally in Caticlan, yey for you! Now you just need to get to the front of the Caticlan's Jetty Port

• If you are coming from Caticlan Airport,
• you can ride a tryc, as soon as you step out of the airport doors follow the road to your right, just a short walk and you will see the tryc terminal. It’s 50pesos per trip if you rent out the tryc good for 3 people.
• In one of our previous trips, we still had the energy, so we just decided to walk and made an event out of it. If you do decide that you want to skip the tryc like we did, as soon as you get out of the airport walk to your right, then turn left at the corner. Just keep walking straight. Ask for directions if you feel you are getting lost, but usually there will be some tourists walking with you as well. It’s a good 15 minutes of walking.

• If you just got off the 2go vessel like us, then just follow the crowd until you get to the front of the building. 

The next steps are actually very easy, depending on the time of year. We’ve tried it before during the off-peak season and there’s absolutely no line. Last weekend was still considered a peak season, and it was just waaaaaay too crowded and humid. This is the part where the tag team helped. 

Day 1: Caticlan Bound

So are you really gonna do this? Just make sure you’ve read my reminders, if you haven’t yet you can click here, and if you agree to comply with them then read on! 

The Preparation: 

Voyage Schedule: 8pm, we booked our tickets on-line via www.2gotravel.com.ph and paid via credit card.

Our accommodation of choice: Tourist Class.  

photo from 2go Travel

What you need to do on the day of the voyage: