Hi Pete

Why do you say that re Manila?

Is is because it's so busy etc.

It's our thought to retire in Manila. However, we are thinking about Cebu now since joining this forum

Cheers

Well of course it's just one person's view which I happily admit. Basically, though I haven't lived in Manila myself I have been visiting and working there for almost 30 years. The Philippines is much more Third World than much of Asia which, sad to say, has left it behind in the development stakes. Manila is very large, congested, crowded, chaotic, badly organized and subject to the impact of typhoons, either directly or as a result of storms passing to the north over Luzon. Like all developing countries there are pockets of affluence - indeed great affluence - in Manila (e.g. Forbes Park) but much of the city is basically a slum and you will find extreme poverty without looking hard. The airport is a mess, taxis are unreliable and regularly try to exploit passengers, especially foreigners, and corruption and crime are common.

Cebu is a city on a much more manageable scale - yes, it has poverty too (and corruption and crime) - but it is large enough to provide many nice places to eat, socialize and shop but not too large to be seriously dysfunctional. Plus you are never to far from the coast or neighbouring islands where there are plenty of nice beach resorts and sights to see. My wife and I just got back from Bohol where we had a great 3 day break just a couple of hours from Cebu.

Cebu has its problems - traffic can be bad but everything is relative and in a smaller city I don't find it intolerable. A big plus is the weather which is not bad at all - very few typhoons ever track this far south in the Visayas. It is a bit cooler in December/January. You can fly from Cebu direct to Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea and a few other places plus plenty of domestic destinations and travel by ferry to numerous other islands.

My views about Manila are shared I know by many Filipinos in this part of the country.

Cebu is not perfect by any means but I find it a comfortable place to live. It's relaxing, has much to offer, has a sizable expat community, is accessible, and the people are nice.

Just my take on things!

Hi Pete, how long does it take to fly to Singapore and which airline? Tiger? How cool in January in Cebu? (apologies for hijacking the thread )

Flight time is about 3 hours 30 minutes. Flights are available on Tiger, Cebu Pacific and Silkair.

Well cool is a relative term but at night it can be around 20ish and during the day low to mid 20s but with low humidity so it feels very comfortable. But the cool spells don't last long and usually happen if there is a very strong northerly monsoon from China that reaches across the South China Sea to the Philippines.

Yes flight from Singapore is 3:20 - 3:40 in duration. Mactan is a very efficient airport, and you will be out in no time at all.

Now December Cebu temperatures for the coastal regions (not the mountains):

If the pre-dawn temperature falls to 77ºF (25ºC) it makes the news, especially when the Novena is in operation. That is the lowest temperature that I have known here. You will see any locals who dare venture out, warmly dressed, wrapped in blankets etc.
The normal high is 86ºF (30ºC). It varies little throughout the year.

The hours of daylight are around 11½ hours plus a handful of minutes.
Use a rough 05:45 to 17:15
Christmas it will be 05:58 to 17:29

Cheers guys. I never knew there were so many flights Sing to Cebu... interesting.

Hi Everyone, and trust you had a very merry Christmas, and here's wishing you a great and very happy new year.

OK my travel plans are as follows and if anyone is remotely close to me to during my travels, then please let me know and I would be very happy to buy you a few beers or a meal and "pick your brain"

Arrive Manila Friday 10th Feb , staying 3 days in Manila
Monday 13th Taglatay and Taal Tuesday 14th off to Puerto Galera for 3 or 4 days to get a little beach time
17th or 18th Fly Manila/Cebu and spend 2 days or so in Cebu or Lapu Lapu
Then over to Bohol for 2 or 3 days to look around
Back to Cebu and catch the plane to Palawan, maybe 4 or 5 days around Palawan and El Nido, and then fly back to Manila flying home on the 1st March

All very fluid, with so far only one hotel booked, I will literally take some pot luck, so if you are around then please leave me an email and I will contact you, or if you have any suggestions on where to stay or other things to do then happy to get them.

I am going to reserve Davao and Mindanao for another trip, and also of course missing huge chunks of the central islands, but this is a fact finding trip AND holiday, so trying to get a bit of both

Many thanks for all you help so far guys

Beancounter

I came from Manila but I have to admit, it's not a place for everybody. It's a place that you would either love or hate

From your list I think the best place is Palawan (especially the El Nido area) ... I fell in love with Palawan after my holiday there September last year and so's my husband... we are planning to go back soon and hopefully buy a property there (just need to go to the US first so I could try the way of life there).

I hope you enjoy your your trip in the Philippines