Travel Forum / Destinations / Asia / February 2004

On Bohol, most of the downtown is very concentrated, and within easy
walking distance.  The Beach Resort has a car and driver to bring you
to town, and that is only a km or so...... If you want to go to the
chocolate hills and the cave lake, get a van and driver.... the hills
are a two hour trip, one way.... the road is mostly dirt, with only
cement on one side of the road,and that only in the villages.... you
wont be able to drive on the cement half there, because the villagers
use it to dry the rice and coconut husks....

If you go to the underground lake, dont swim in it.... it is clear and
pretty, but contaminated with bat guano.....  think "urinary tract
infection"

You will however see lots of friendly people, and tricycle taxis
different than luzon or Cebu.

watch out for pickpockets... one got my disposable camera from my
asawa's coat pocket.....

If you take the fast ferry, buy a coconut of rice from the vendors and
tell the guard he needs more than two bullets in his belt loops.....

Oh yeah.... you will see lots and lots of stars.... yellow.....
red.....

Yes that is true, car with a driver is more common. And when you hire
a car and driver, its's expected that you provide a meal for him also.
It is not uncommon for him to join your party.

What you will find in Bohol is plenty of motorcycle rental places
though. In alot of those cases, they won't even ask for your
identification. If you want to hire a car and driver, just ask any of
those, ask your hotel or your local friends and I'm sure you will get
many recommendations.

Yes the road to Chocolate Hills are half dirt and Tagbilaran's
downtown is quite small. It will be the only place there you will
encounter traffic. Outside of that it is rural.

As for Manila, it is not impossible to rent a car on your own. Avis,
Safari and Dollar are some agencies. Only cars are rented, vans only
come with drivers. Your licence will be good for 60 days. However, for
convenience and other obvious things, it is usually best to just hire
a car with driver.

af