PANGLAO

 16th - 19th Dec 2025

Panglao and Bohol in the southern part of the Philippines. I stayed on Alona Beach.

By efficient Grab taxi to the airport for the domestic flight to Bohol. The 'Domestic' airport terminal was crowded, chaotic, with long queues and few 'facilities' in which to relax. No bar! Not only that but I was under the impression that I could take a cabin bag weighing up to 7kg with my small backpack to go under the seat in front, as had been fine with China Airways to Manila. No such luck! They weighed the backpack with the cabin bag and it came to 9kg. I had to pay 1,400 Pesos (£18 equivalent) and put my cabin bag in the hold. I am always loathe to have 'hold' baggage as there are many stories about people who had lost these in transit. What a rip-off! But that is airlines for you.

Following on from this, I noticed this fellow passenger (left) who must have weighed in at about 200kg. There is something illogical about penalties on small cabin baggage overweight.......but they make money out of it. There should be a maximum weight allowance for passenger plus cabin bag. It's a scam!

Anyway, it was an uneventful 1hr 30min flight to the airport at Tagbilaran on the south-west tip of the island of Bohol. Then a Grab taxi, over the causeway to Alona Beach on Panglao and to the hotel I had booked, the Alona Swiss Resort, up a quiet alleyway about 200yds from the beach.

It was lovely little hotel with a comfortable large 'en-suite' room (with all mod cons) and for the price of 2300 Pesos per night (about £28 pn). Great value, with very charming and helpful staff at reception. I would be here for 3 nights. The rooms surrounded a courtyard in which was a bubbly water-jet pool (right). Of course I had to give it a go!

Left: The beach is a pleasant long stretch of white sand and crystal clear blue sea. It was lined by a plethora of very pleasant and varied bars, cafés and restaurants (plus the ubiquitous 7-Eleven shop of course). Did I mention in an earlier 'blog' that there are over 4000 of these very useful shops in the country?

As with many of the other islands in this country it was noted for all sorts of aquatic entertainment. Predominantly scuba diving, snorkelling, porpoise, and other sea life watching. I'm not a very aquatic person. Right: There were many of these boats taking divers out to sea. The Philippines are, apparently, a diver's paradise.

Left: An example of a typical smart and hospitable bar/restaurant.

Right: This one, the Okyanus Lounge Bar, made a fine dry martini cocktail.......two for the price of one during 'Happy Hour' (3pm - 7pm), and you couldn't escape the 'festive' headgear on most of the staff! 

Left: As with these two charming ladies at one of the cafés (good Shepherds' Pie here).

Right: .....and even I succumbed to joining in. We were far off 'celebrating' the New Year.

Left: Bar service at the beach...plus more Filipino dogs.

Right: .....and of course the mandatory 'Oirish Bear'; 'Paddy's Irish Pub'.....which actually served some Irish beer, and even Guiness. (non-existent in Manila).

Left: Which I sampled in this quaint corner; 'The Pisshead Corner' as it was designated.

Right: I was intrigued by this sign outside the front door. I did not venture up to the 2nd floor.

Left: Another amusing watering-hole. These places became very active, and loud, at night. I must be getting old because I rather tend to miss out on late-night activities nowadays. I prefer the daytime relative peace and quiet.

Right: Another typical Filipino dog, probably feral, engaged in their customary pursuit of scratching themselves.

I must say, the weather down here was always sunny and warm. A rather pleasant change from the often drizzly overcast Manila.

I don't think I mentioned previously the scraggy feral cats which inhabited the streets of Manila. I'm afraid I am not a cat lover and didn't see many around this place. However, the locals must like them as this box (left) was on prominent display on the desk at my hotel reception. I could give a few chosen 'tips' on what to do with them! 

Right: There were advertisements such as these for 'activities' and 'tours' on display all over the town, and with eager touts trying to sell them at, I discovered, rather inflated prices.

Left: More of the tours and activities on sale.

As it happened I did arrange a tour around the neighbouring island of Bohol. I organised this via the helpful girls at my hotel reception and the cost for a full day with a driver to myself was considerably cheaper than those advertised! 

The day on Bohol, and I only managed a few of the many sights and entertainments on offer there, deserves a blog of its own. 

I will continue with this in the next thrilling edition.....