Philippines Guide
For Travelers, Expats and Pinoys
Zamboanga Travel Guide
The Philippines is boasting with islands and cities full of nature, sights to see and special phenomena such as volcanoes, marine life, special hills or rice terraces. There is yet another city that boasts of the rich Filipino heritage, but this time it is not about special natural phenomena or volcanoes, it is about the colonial past of the Philippines. This place is called the little Spain of the Philippines and you will be part of the Zamboanga Travel Guide where we will take you on a tour around the most important parts of this place and where we also show you where to stay and to dine.
Before setting out on the places to go in our Zamboanga Travel Guide, you need to relax for a while and store your luggage safely somewhere. The hotel Lantaka is a Spanish style hotel with an ocean front view. This hotel is affordable and comfortable and you can make yourself on your way for our first stop on the Zamboanga Travel Guide tour. The most popular attraction as well as the most reminiscent Spanish attraction is the Fort Pilar. The Fort Pilar was a fort used to defend the people from invaders and outside attack. The Pettit Barracks are located right within the fort and have been captured by Americans and Japanese during the different wars and occupations in the Philippines.
Since the travel to Fort Pilar is a little tiring, let us settle to the next stop in the Zamboanga Travel Guide which will be a restaurant where you can munch your lunch. Today we opted for seafood since Zamboanga is famous for it and our favorite place to go is the Alavar Seafood Restaurant which serves Filipino seafood and will be the best place to show you how and what to eat from the local seafood cuisine in the Philippines. After your hunger and thirst have been thoroughly satisfied, we should move on with the Zamboanga Travel Guide to Abong-abong. Abong-abong is a pilgrimage site and came about by no one else than the Spaniards. This pilgrimage includes thirteen stations that you have to visit during holy week in the Philippines and one of them includes a volcano shaped like a turtle and a heart. It doesn’t only sound interesting but it looks interesting as well.
The last stop in our Zamboanga Travel Guide is a rather seasonal stop which means you have to plan your stay with the festival during the month of October. We are talking about the Regatta de Zamboanga where hundreds of colorful boats compete in a regatta during the Hermosa Festival in this city. After the day of excitement and sightseeing, you might probably slump back into the bed back in the hotel. You will be able to find many more things to do and see in little Spain of the Philippines.
Zamboanga Sightseeing Guide
This Zamboanga sightseeing guide will give you a tour of the place known as the Little Spain in the Philippines. You’ll immediately notice the heavy mix of Spanish with the vernacular the minute you talk to any of the locals. Nowhere has there been heavier Spanish influence here in the Philippines than in Zamboanga City.
Let’s begin our Zamboanga sightseeing guide with the natural attractions you’ll find here. Zamboanga has a lot of beautiful beaches that bring in local and foreign tourists. Three of the most popular beaches here are Bolong Beach, the pink sandy coral beaches Santa Cruz Island, and ever-famous La Vista del Mar. Another interesting place to see here is Pasonanca Park, which is also known as Little Baguio. Pasonanca Park is famous for camping and a cool retreat from summer due its elevation of 500 feet above sea level.
We now move on to the man-made attractions in our Zamboanga sightseeing guide. You’ll find traces of Spanish architecture all over Zamboanga City. Some of the surviving structures you’ll find would even date back to the Spanish era. For instance Fort Pilar was built in 1635 to ward off marauders. Today it stands as a shrine that marks a historical site in the Philippines.
Zamboanga’s City Hall was built in 1905. The construction was initiated by the Spanish but was taken over by the Americans when they took over. Five minutes from the city hall is the Pettit Barracks, named after James S. Pettit, a colonel in the United States Army when they captured the city.
Another reason to visit Pasonanca Park, aside from the cool soothing temperature, is its aviary. Located seven and a half kilometers from the city proper, you’ll find various local and foreign species of birds on display. It won’t be uncommon to find families spending an afternoon here.
We’ll now look into some of the delectable highlights in our Zamboanga sightseeing guide. A tour of Zamboanga won’t be complete without sampling the delicacies that make it famous. You can visit any of the alfresco and outdoor restaurants to sample the best of Zamboanga cuisine. Much of the food served are Spanish with a local twist, which is a bit unique in this part of the Philippines. Some of the must sample dishes are pochero, callos de andalucia, and arroz valenciana.
To cap off our Zamboanga sightseeing guide we have the cultural celebrations that occur year round. Zamboanga City is famous for its cultural activities that include enchanting song and dance festivals. The city streets become one of the most colorful ones in the Philippines. The most popular festival here is the Regatta de Zamboanga. It is a festival of many colorful sailboats that highlights a race across the nearby waters.
This Zamboanga sightseeing guide highlights many of the unique features of the city. It is truly one of the peculiar places in the Philippines that deserves the title of Little Spain.
Zamboanga Restaurant Guide
This Zamboanga restaurant guide will take you through three of the most popular dining establishments that primarily have seafood on the menu. And the Philippines being a collection of thousands of islands with its many coastlines is one place where you can enjoy boundless and fresh seafood any day of the year and at affordable prices too.
Alavar Seafood Restaurant
The first establishment in this Zamboanga restaurant guide for great seafood in the Philippines is Alavar Seafood Restaurant. This very popular business is located at 173 Don Alfaro St., Brgy. Tetuan. One particular item that patrons can not seem to get enough of is their curacha (local crab) with Alavar sauce. Yes, that special sauce is also sold as a separate bottled item (in addition to other Alavar pre-made products) that you take home with you.
Hai San Seafood Market and Restaurant
Situated at 60 San Jose Road, the second business in this Zamboanga restaurant guide for seafood in the Philippines is a two-in-one establishment which mainly focuses on Chinese cuisine. Going by its name – Hai San Seafood Market and Restaurant – you are given the option to buy your ingredients (fresh fish, live crustaceans in tanks, vegetables, etc.) and have them cook it as you prefer under the menu categories of “Ways of Cooking”, “Steamed”, and “Fried”. It goes to show that you can not get seafood entrées with fresher ingredients than how they do it.
Mano Mano Na Greenfield Restaurant
“Mano-mano”, when translated to English, means “to eat with ones hands” and this restaurant along Gov. Ramos Avenue is where eating without utensils is very much smiled upon. This last restaurant in our Zamboanga restaurant guide for seafood in the Philippines boasts of very affordable menu items like calamari or blue marlin that is less than 100 pesos per dish. It is a casual, hang-out place that is frequented by families and groups of friends alike that is why it is almost always packed with customers.
This Zamboanga restaurant guide for seafood in the Philippines covers three of the most popular establishments among the many seafood restaurants in the city. Breaking this Zamboanga restaurant guide down, we have Alavar Seafood first. Its well-liked curacha with Alavar sauce is arguably the most recognizable dish in the city that its sauce can even be bought separately in a bottle. Hai San, on the other hand, offers a Chinese-oriented approach to serving seafood with its method of “buy and then cook as the customer likes it”. Lastly, Mano Mano na Greenfield with its undeniable native, homey and casual atmosphere in addition to its affordable menu items is a definite must-try in the City of Zamboanga, Philippines.
Zamboanga Hotel Guidea
Staying in the Spanish town of the Philippines is not always that easy, because you need to know a little bit about the city in order to find a great hotel. There are places big and small to stay in the little Spain of the Philippines, but none that has an international recognizable brand. Let us help you find a great hotel to stay with the Zamboanga Hotel Guide.
The first place in the Zamboanga Hotel Guide is located in the heart of the city and this hotel is one of the oldest places around. The Lantaka is not the up to date facility for young people but it still has the flair from the past which makes this place ideal for elderly travelers and families. This hotel has a pool area and of course a restaurant where you can munch your breakfast before exploring the city. This hotel has a gift shop and only costs an average of $50 per night.
If you came to the Philippines for their white beaches then the Zamboanga Hotel Guide presents you the Dakak Park Beach Resort. This hotel is a beachfront establishment where you can easily go to and fro the private beach to enjoy your daily activities. The food is great and healthy and you can relax in their pools or spa. For an average of $80 per night, this beachfront beauty seems a tad too costly, but you will surely find your reasons to stay in the little Spain of the Philippines.
The Zamboanga Hotel Guide takes you now to the Garden Orchid Hotel which is one of the most popular in this city. The Garden Orchid Hotel has everything one could want in a hotel in the Philippines and we are not exaggerating. You will find a ballroom, function rooms, convention centers, laundry services, car rentals, money changer, an executive clubhouse, a gym, a sauna, a tennis court, beauty salons and barber shops, a convenience store, a souvenir shop, a travel agency, a restaurant, and a pool area. Now you know we didn’t exaggerate. The average room rate per night ranges around $60.
The last hotel on our Zamboanga Hotel Guide is the Grand Astoria Hotel. There are many other Astoria hotels scattered throughout the Philippines but this one promises very spacious rooms and they do not disappoint. The food is good, but can also be avoided yet the rooms are a great investment. The Astoria also has a fitness gym and it is in walking distance of all the major malls. The average cost for a single room is around $80.
Enjoy your Zamboanga Hotel Guide further and maybe you will find so many more places to stay in the little Spain of the Philippines.
Zamboanga Beach Guide
Zamboanga is a region in Mindanao. The main dialect spoken in Zamboanga is Chabacano. Tourists go there to do many things including a vacation in the beach.
A group of friends and a family will surely have a fun time visiting the city and the beaches in Zamboanga.
1.The Pink Beach in the Big Santa Cruz Island – This is a beach that one can find in the big Santa Cruz Island. It is very popular in Zamboanga and it is ranked as one of the best beaches to visit in the Philippines. The color of the sand is indeed very unique. The sand appears to be pink because of the effect of the red coral which gives out eons and then it gets mixed with the surf and then touches the sand. The corals are just close to the shore of the island. The pink beach is not a common thing all over the world. The pink beach is three miles in length and it actually encircles the island.
The bigger Santa Cruz Island has a huge lagoon filled with mangroves where the level of the water rise and fall along with the rise and fall of the ocean’s tide. There is a tiny village of Badjaos and that place serves as their burial area. There is so much vegetation in the inner part of the island. There are some trees with flowers as well giving sufficient shade from the hot sun. There are many crabs living in the mangroves. You can reach this island via a motorized boat or what the locals call a vinta from the city in just twenty minutes for eight hundred pesos. There are several kinds of boats so the fare depends on the kind of the boat you choose.
2. The Little Santa Cruz Island – This is close to the big one with the pink sand. It has white sand. A military base installed there. Diving and snorkeling in the beach is a famous recreation in this island. There is a good amount of marine animals under the waters and the clear waters give good visibility however it can be affected by the weather. In the big or great Santa Cruz Island there are coconut huts with roofs which are ideal for picnickers. There are enough bathrooms as well.
3. Bolong Beach – This is the beach that you can go to if you don’t want to ride a boat. It is just forty five minutes away from the city via a car or a van. Some locals just rent a jeep so a big family can all come together. The rental for a jeepney can reach up to seven hundred pesos. The whole beach is one and a half kilometers in length. There are many coconut huts in the beach which you can rent. You can even cook food like barbeque. When you go home you may stop in the Sangali town where you can buy fresh seafood.
4.Pitas Island Beach – This is in front of the Bolong beach. Some people can even swim from Bolong going to the Pitas beach. There are some fishermen living in the Pitas island. You can reach the Pitas island by riding a vinta with the motor. There are eleven islands in this area and offers good areas for swimming and snorkeling.
5. The Yellow Beach - This is a private resort however people are welcome for a very minimal payment of ten pesos for each person. It is one kilometer in length with many trees and restaurants. There are some bars where you can sing with the karaoke as well. There are small stores where you can buy several things as well.
6. La Vista del Mar Beach Resort – This has become the most popular resort for the rich urban dwellers. There are several amenities in this resort. It is the closest resort to the city. The beach of the resort may not be compared to the ones in the Santa Cruz islands but the amenities are some of the best in the resort industry. Many people who live in the city like it her because of the proximity of the place.
Tagbilaran Travel Guide
One of the most popular and developed cities in the southern region of the Philippines, Tagbilaran City in Bohol offers nice and attractive places for travelers and tourist. To offer comfort and convenience to everyone, the place plays home to numerous hotels or lodges that offer reasonable accommodation rates and well-maintained facilities. In addition, there are also restaurants in the city, where people can dine, unwind, and relax, with their friends and loved ones. Hence, for people who plan to visit the place, they can always take a look at Tagbilaran travel guide to avoid hassles and problems.
Tourist Attractions
One of the main features of Tagbilaran travel guides is the section wherein people can read information about the famous tourist attractions in Tagbilaran City, Philippines. For those who like to admire the beauty of manmade tourist spots in the place, most Tagbilaran travel guides offer details on how to get to the famous Blood Compact Site, President Carlos P. Garcia Memorial Park, as well as Children’s Playground and Mini Park. Hence, art and history fanatics can always visit the attractive Bohol Museum, which once serves as shelter for the family of the late President of the Philippines, Carlos P. Garcia.
Dining
Besides tourist destinations, Tagbilaran travel guides also feature dining places in the city. For tourists who crave for authentic Filipino dishes, they can always taste the delectable meals at Gerry’s Grill, Saya’s Restaurant, and Prawn Farm. Hence, for those who want to unwind and order tasty beverages, they can visit the famous Ruby Stone Music Bar and Entertainment. By referring to Tagbilaran travel guides, people can have ideas about the menu as well as price range of meals at the dining places in Tagbilaran City, Philippines.
Accommodations
In terms of accommodations, Tagbilaran travel guides feature first rate hotels in Tagbilaran City, Philippines, where people can have a wonderful and enjoyable stay. For those who like to stay in elegant and luxurious guestrooms, they can always make advance reservations at any of these famous hotels, The Metrocenter Hotel and Convention Center, Bohol Tropics Resort, and Wergent Plaza Hotel. Meanwhile, for those who are in search for hospitality service providers that offer affordable accommodations such as Chriscent Ville Pension House, East Coast Tourist Inn, and Slim Pension House. By using Tagbilaran travel guides, travelers and vacationers who plan to visit Tagbilaran City, Philippines, will surely have a worry-free, exciting, and enjoyable vacation at one of the famous cities in the country.
Tagbilaran Sightseeing Guide
Welcome to the Tagbilaran Sightseeing Guide where we show you around the most worthy spots in Tagbilaran, Bohol. Tagbilaran is located on the south coast of Bohol and the island of Bohol is one of the most note-worthy islands in the Visayas and in the Philippines altogether. Today, you will experience wonder, nature, fun and excitement through the Tagbilaran Sightseeing Guide.
Bohol is sometimes called the mountain island of the Philippines and with a good right, because you will not only find numerous ordinary hills and mountains, but also special ones that we will be discussing later in this Tagbilaran Sightseeing Guide. First we have to get a good overview on the activities and sights we want to see and that is why our first spot in the Tagbilaran Sightseeing Guide is one of the famous hills of Tagbilaran; Elly Hill. The Elly hill rises more than 100 meters above the sea level and give you a great view not only over the Bohol Island but also over neighboring islands in the Philippines.
Let us proceed with the Tagbilaran Sightseeing Guide to relax a little before we take the big ride to the great sites. Where else to relax than at the house beach of Tagbilaran called Kaingit Beach. You can even take a quick dive at the beach if you are into scuba diving. Let us start going towards the sites now that we take you with the help of the Tagbilaran Sightseeing Guide. The most spectacular site comes first which are the Chocolate Hills of the Philippines. The Chocolate Hills are not only a local wonder but is sought after internationally and throughout the Philippines. The hills are simple hills with brown grass which gives the illusion of chocolate.
Our next Tagbilaran Sightseeing Guide spot takes us to the Philippines Tarsier Foundation where you cannot only see but also touch tarsiers that are unique to the Philippines. The Philippines Tarsier Foundation provides a big natural habitat to the Philippine Tarsier so that they will always able to live on their own. You can take a guide with you so that they show you how you can touch the tarsiers in this area.
The next pot on the Tagbilaran Sightseeing Guide list is going to be a natural waterfall which is perfect for sightseeing and swimming. The Busay Falls in Bohol are a 12 meter wide fall with a depth of 4 meters. There are floating restaurants on top of the waterfall lake which is pretty much unique in the Philippines.
Bohol is one of the islands of the Philippines where the best of the Philippines comes together and this concludes the Tagbilaran Sightseeing Guide, but do not just follow our guide, but create your own and explore the sites of Tagbilaran, Bohol.
Tagbilaran Restaurant Guide
Known as one of the most progressive and attractive cities in the province of Bohol, Philippines, Tagbilaran City always offer beautiful sights and destinations to travelers and tourists. As a way of providing a worthwhile experience and vacation to people, this wonderful city features different interesting restaurants or dining places for the comfort and convenience of everyone. Hence, to know more about the accommodating and inviting restaurants in the place, it is important for tourists to refer to Tagbilaran restaurant guides for these offer information on cuisines, price ranges, and locations of famous dining places in the area.
Cuisines Available at Restaurants in Tagbilaran City, Philippines
One of the important factors that many people consider when they choose restaurants to dine is the type of cuisine a particular dining place offers. For instance, for people who are in search for restaurants that serve native dishes, they can always look at Tagbilaran restaurant guides for the specialties of dining places in the area, which usually include Kusina Nativo Ihaw-Ihaw Restaurant, Payag Restaurant, and Valea Restaurant. Meanwhile, for those who preferred grilled as well as seafood dining places, they can always visit any of these restaurants that are commonly featured in Tagbilaran restaurant guides; Caingit Fish Grill Restaurant, JJ’s Seafood Village, and Wow Grill and Chill.
Price Range of Meals at Dining Places in Tagbilaran City, Philippines
When it comes to price range, Tagbilaran restaurant guides always provide details on the cost of meals at dining places in Tagbilaran City, Philippines. For those who want affordable meals, they can take a look at the meals served in some fastfoods in the city that are usually enumerated in Tagbilaran restaurant guides such as McDonald’s, Jollibee, and Chowking. On the other hand, who have budgets ranging from 300 pesos to 500 pesos per meal, they can visit Pizza Hut, Bo’s Coffee Club, and Cion Virge Café and Restaurant.
Location of Restaurants in Tagbilaran City, Philippines
Regarding the location of dining places in Tagbilaran City, Philippines, Tagbilaran restaurant guides always provide the exact address of restaurants in the area. For those who want to dine in restaurants that are very accessible, they can check out these dining places; Singaporean Claypot Restaurant, JJ’s Dimsum and Restaurant, as well as Odysseus Steak Haus and Restaurant. To assist travelers choose the best restaurant in the place, Tagbilaran restaurant guides also offer information on the ambiance and quality of service that restaurants in Tagbilaran City, Philippines provide to consumers.
Tagbilaran Hotel Guide
A fast advancing and popular tourist destination in the province of Bohol, Tagbilaran City plays home to numerous interesting hospitality service providers in the Philippines. To help travelers have a wonderful and remarkable vacation in the city, there are Tagbilaran hotel guides that they can use to look at the special features of hospitality service providers in the area. Most of the hotel guides offer basic information on the hotels such as their star ratings, facilities, as well as accommodation rates. In this way, tourists can easily decide, which of the hotels suit their budgets and needs.
Star Ratings in Tagbilaran Hotel Guides
For the sake of travelers and vacationers in Tagbilaran City, Philippines, who consider the performance and quality of service of hospitality service providers, they can always look at the star ratings in Tagbilaran hotel guides. For those who prefer to sleep in elegant guestrooms, they can always check in in any of the four-star and three-star hospitality service providers in Tagbilaran City, Philippines, which include Bohol Tropics Resort, The MetroCentre Hotel and Convention Center, as well as Hotel La Roca. However, for those who do not have ample budget to stay in these hotels, they can always stay in two-star and one-star hotels that are commonly featured in Tagbilaran hotel guides like Winward Pension House, Villa Alzhun Tourist Inn, and El Portal Inn.
Facilities and Accommodation Rates of Hotels in Tagbilaran City, Philippines
To those who prioritize the facilities of hotels when choosing places to stay in Tagbilaran City, Philippines, they can refer to Tagbilaran hotel guides because these feature amenities available in Tagbilaran hospitality service providers. For people who want to stay in hotels that have dining and leisure amenities, they can reserve rooms at The Meridian Hotel, Wregent Plaza Hotel, and Gie Gardens Hotel. On the other hand, for those who are content with hotels that have standard amenities but affordable room rates, they can check out the rooms at any of these lodges and pension houses; Charisma Lodge, Villa Camilla Pension House, and Slim Pension House.
Tagbilaran travel guides are surely helpful to everyone who has plans of spending their vacations in the city. By using or referring to these guides, individuals can plan their trips to Tagbilaran City, Philippines well. Additionally, they can also manage their budgets well, since they can have a look at the estimated rates of hospitality service providers. Above all, they can easily locate the places where they want to stay because the guides also provide information on the exact location of these places.
Tacloban Travel Guide
One of the attractive tourist destinations in the province of Leyte, Tacloban City plays home to numerous beautiful sightseeing spots where people can relax, enjoy, and have fun. To have a safe and remarkable visit or vacation in Tacloban City, Philippines, it is important that tourists refer to Tacloban travel guides for the best places to visit in the area. Tacloban travel guides are helpful for it offers information on hotels and restaurants that provide efficient services to everyone.
Tourist Attractions in Tacloban City, Philippines
For the security of all travelers in Tacloban City, Philippines, Tacloban travel gudes provide knowledge on the beautiful tourist destinations in the place that are safe to visit. The city takes pride in its alluring natural and manmade tourist spots, which are commonly featured in Tacloban travel guides, like Santo Nino Shrine Museum, Leyte Provincial Capitol Building, and MacArthur Landing Memorial. Additionally, many Tacloban travel guides also feature festivals or special events in the city such as Pintados Kasadyaan Festival, Subiran Regatta, and Santo Nino de Leyte Fiesta. Furthermore, residents in the place value Christmas a lot, which is the reason why special presentations are usually organized in Tacloban City, like Misa de Gallo, during the yuletide season.
Hotels, Lodges and Inns in Tacloban City, Philippines
When it comes to hotels, lodges, and inns, travelers can refer to Tacloban travel guides for the famous hospitality service providers in the place. To accommodate tourists who prefer to stay in hospitality service providers that offer elegant amenities, Tacloban travel guides feature five-star and four-star hotels in Tacloban City, Philippines, like Leyte Park Hotel, Tacloban Plaza Hotel, and Hotel Alejandro. In addition, there are also lodges and inns featured at Tacloban travel guides, which commonly include Makabugwas Lodge, Golden Key Inn, and Maasin Country Lodge.
Restaurants in Tacloban City, Philippines
Aside from hospitality service providers, Tacloban travel guides also allot sections on dining or restaurant that serve special and mouth-watering dishes in the city. Some of the restaurants in the place that are featured in Tacloban travel guides are Calle Z Café, Giuseppe’s Italian-Filipino Restaurant, and Hugo’s Foodshop Mexican. In addition, the guides also offer knowledge on the menu and specialties of these dining places; San Pedro Bay Seafood, Ocho Seafood and Grill, as well as Agus Seafood Restaurant. Thus, with all the attractive and informative features of the travel guides, people can have a worry-free, exciting and enjoyable stay in the City of Tacloban.
