Best Climate for June Visit

[david44]

Don't really wish to drive.

How will weather be?

Open minded on destination if cooler than here where its 30-40 in day and 20+ maybe a windward beach, no hurricanes please!
Or high country, Of course will have to spend a night or two in cities, especially welcome ideas from Davis or Katie or any others with local knowledge. Don't need resorts,white sand or Scuba but a quiet beach with basic bungalows for 3 weeks be great.

I read Katies v helpful tps of Palawan.

As I understand the S Islands are best avoided due to terrorism, Zamboanga etc?

The harder to get too islands North of Luzon Fuga Bascos etc sound interesting anyone been?

Are there any jabs not needed n Thailand, apart from mozzie repellent off piste? No interest in big cities thanks

I speak basic Spanish is that any use for places where they dont speak English or should I get a Tagalog app/dictinary?

[Switch]

I may still be in Cebu/Mactan in June mate. Keep me appraised of your plans.

I quite fancy Puerta Galera meself. Katie did a very good trip report. (I hope I spelled it properly this time)

[david44]

Yes I read Katies reports

Ok what's a Mactan is that pinoy ladyboy.

How's the weather fancy a change from Hot n Sticky

Alternates are Kandy , Taiwan or WA vinyards but want to see PI before I croak , I guess Dec January is coolest

Can you find a GH or bungalow for $30 ish for a double outside teh cities Cebu looks very unappealing on google maps just American junk food and shop houses, or are there hidden delights?

Bum voyage , is the food as awful as they say a small fishing town should at least have fish?

[Switch]

Yes I read Katies reports

Ok what's a Mactan is that pinoy ladyboy.

How's the weather fancy a change from Hot n Sticky

Alternates are Kandy , Taiwan or WA vinyards but want to see PI before I croak , I guess Dec January is coolest

Can you find a GH or bungalow for $30 ish for a double outside teh cities Cebu looks very unappealing on google maps just American junk food and shop houses, or are there hidden delights?

Bum voyage , is the food as awful as they say a small fishing town should at least have fish?

I visited Cebu last year and found pretty much what you described. Trying Mactan (airport island) and Lapu Lapu .this time. A mix of cooler beaches and local/western cuisine.
Still planning an excursion to Puerta Galera. No diving for me, just chill out at beach bars and enjoy the seafood.

[david44]

just chill out at beach bars and enjoy the seafood.

Ta for info I found Maktan on my map , is it nice? , quiet no cars airplanes tuktuks, I can tolerate noise of fishing boats ferries kids and chickens but dont want to be in place Huan Hin which is a sandpit next to a motorway IMHO.




How does it compare to Thai beaches Hua Hin and Chh Am I know best? Weather, prices, digs , food.She'll want a beach I am happy shooting the breeze with a crabs/lobster and a book

Is it as easy , frequently availablesafe to rent a cycle or motorcycle for local trip sunless the Thai rip off scams , what type of licence they'll accept I'll never leave a passport as a deposit.Car rental is poss but looking at the roads not a good option.

As Boracay shut I assume the overflow will go to the next most popular place, what would that be?

[Norton]

Our Sabang lived coincidentally in Palawan. He may have something to add about Palawan.

[Davis Knowlton]

GF lives in Palawan as well.

[katie23]

@david44 - I'm surprised that you can talk in plain English, as I've always thought that you speak incomprehensible gobbledy-gook. Lol.

Re: weather, it can be hit or miss, so you'll have to take your chances. Generally during June, it's a bit rainy already, and it's predicted to be a La Nina year now, so more rain is expected. With climate change and all, it's hard to predict.

If you don't like big cities, then it's best that you avoid Manila and maybe choose Cebu airport instead. From Cebu island, one can take inter island ferries from Cebu to Bohol to Dumaguete then on to Panay Island (Iloilo, etc). Or you can go direct to Dumaguete - a colleague is from there and she said it's become more developed and touristy. If you want a quiet island, you could try Siquijor. There's a thread here named Sticky whore - which was click bait, but there's a good vid there about the island. Just watch out for the aswang/ witches. Lol.

Or you could head further north and go to Mindoro Island and Puerto Galera. View the vids from Tizme - they're mostly from Mindoro.

Re: language, you don't need a dictionary, because almost anybody can speak English to some degree. In the Visayas region, they use other dialects (not Tagalog) as their mother tongue.

Up north is also good - Pagudpod beach is popular among local tourists. Batanes islands are very beautiful -very different terrain (has been compared to Scotland or Ireland, I forgot which). I've seen the FB photos from a friend - very beautiful. However, I think it's mostly tour agencies which fly there and not independent travelers - my friend used an agency.

By June, Boracay will still be closed. However, I don't think it's your thing, since it has become very touristy.

Good luck with your research. Safe travels. Buen viaje.

Here's a vid on why a travel blogger didn't like the Philippines...initially.

[david44]

Whats easiest access Palawan fly Clark/Manila and ferry?

Are there any International flights I can fly direct from here to Hong Kong or Bangkok or drive to C mai .

Cebu seems easy from Thailand?

[katie23]

^Manila to Palawan. Not sure for Clark to Palawan - I don't use Clark airport since I'm from South Luzon and Manila airport is nearer.

There are also flights from Cebu to Palawan. A Mongolian group that I tour-guided spent a few days in Palawan (Puerto Princesa & El Nido), then flew to Cebu.

Edit - There's a ferry that goes from Manila to Puerto Princesa in Palawan (2gotravel dot com). However, a friend said that the ferry is not advisable since the seas are often rough. If you're adventurous and don't get seasick, then you can take your chances with the ferry.

[Norton]

Katie, it's been ages but I found the beaches near Subic Bay to be fantastic. Easy access as well. ???

[david44]

Thanks all, doesn't seem ideal weather, I'll continue my research ,I'm used to small boats and can cope with swell but mrs quakes on 90 m plane trips so Ocean ferries maybe out.

Looks like some nice spots within a days travel of Cebu airport.

[Norton]

Looks like some nice spots within a days travel of Cebu airport

Clark airport as well.

[katie23]

@Norton, it's also been a while since I've been to Subic. I went to the beach on a day trip - didn't find it impressive. But then, there are several beaches there and I'm not really familiar with that area, so my opinion wouldn't be worth much. Davis probably knows more (or Tizme or forreachingme). Beaches in Batangas or Quezon are more accessible for me.

Re: June weather, from experience there are some rains but no typhoons yet - they usually come in July or August. I'll be going on a trip with friends for a long weekend beach trip in mid June - so my gang will be taking chances too, weather-wise.

Re: small islands, I found this one about Siquijor - fairly recent. I think the vloggers are still travelling here. I found their antics amusing. If not interested in their story, fast forward to near the end. The area where they had lunch - the views were fantastic. For those interested in the back story, view the part 1 of their vid.

You could also try the Camotes Islands - Callippo has been there, but I don't know if he still posts here. Cheers!



edit - in part 1 of their vid, they mentioned that their room in the mountains was 500 pesos/night, roughly 10 USD. Cheap, but that's the provincial rate. If you go to big cities, then it'll be more pricey, just like everywhere else.

[katie23]

@david44 - addendum - for me, the good months for travelling would be late November to June. Less chances of typhoons. However, in the past 2 years there were typhoons near Xmas time, so it's quite difficult to predict bcos of climate change & all. You also have to contend with peak travelling season during late December to early January (Xmas season). Many people go home to the provinces and Fil workers from abroad go home too. I think the best months would be February to early March, since it's cooler. April & May are very hot months, but not as hot as Isaan, since we have sea breezes. When I went to Laos, it was 42 degrees and even though I'm a tropical girl, I melted in the heat. I'm only used to 36-37 C outdoor temps.

If anybody needs a day tour guide near the Manila area, I know an excellent one. She comes cheap - you just need to feed her. and you have to be friendly, respectful and polite. You also have to schedule as she's a busy girl.

[Davis Knowlton]

@Norton, it's also been a while since I've been to Subic. I went to the beach on a day trip - didn't find it impressive. But then, there are several beaches there and I'm not really familiar with that area, so my opinion wouldn't be worth much. Davis probably knows more (or Tizme or forreachingme). Beaches in Batangas or Quezon are more accessible for me.

Never spent much time on the Subic area beaches - there is good diving to be found, however.

[katie23]

@david44 - here's a vid of Port Barton in Palawan. The beach looks great and very quiet - now it's in my bucket list. The place they stayed at was a basic room, 11 USD. It's the same couple - Alex & Emma. They have lots of vids in PI - swimming with turtles in Moalboal, Cebu & Canyoneering in Kawasan Falls, Cebu. The guy, Alex, also ate balut, so he has my RESPECT!

The guy looks like Harry Potter & gal looks like Jennifer Lawrence of Hunger Games. They seem to have lots of views & subscribers, as they're a fun-loving & good looking couple. I enjoyed watching their vids. Cheers!

[Wolf34]

Visited the country last December. I liked the weather, it rarely rained and the weather wasn't too hot.