A Christmas vacation well spent in Bohol

I've been planning to visit Bohol since 2022. However, due to other priorities, it has been delayed. Until early December (2023), I finally decided to book our flight and hotel in Bohol. It's a little more exciting since it's also our first time to go on a vacation with just us four (Myself, Kiel, and our 2 kids).

I booked a 5 day trip! It was a much needed break!!!!! YAYYY!!!!!

Fast forward to our Day 1. As the plane touched down on the vibrant island of Bohol, a wave of excitement and anticipation swept over us. Christmas lights adorned the airport, setting the festive mood.

The airport is only more or less 2 km away from our hotel. I booked a van transfer which cost us Php 600 from the airport to our hotel (Yes, it's a little pricey eh?). This is where we met kuya Junry (Our van driver) who offered us different options which we grabbed right away since he seems to be really nice and the offer is actually pretty good. (I also prefer hiring a van so it's going to be more comfortable for us and the kids. Our kids were able to comfortably sleep during the tour). You'll also see a lot of other locals everywhere offering tour packages.

We checked into our hotel which is a few minutes walk away from Alona Beach. After settling in, we strolled along the powdery sand while looking for a spot to eat and chill. We had a sumptuous dinner at a local restaurant, with some music playing in the background. We also watched fire dancing by the local performers.

After dinner, we strolled at the beach for more or less an hour and went back to the hotel to rest since we will be having a countryside tour the next day.

There were lots of places to visit. You just have to prepare your $$$ as you will be paying entrance fees for each place you'll visit. One of the best spots for us though is the whale shark encounter. It's definitely one for the books! Plus the beauty of the Chocolate hills is also way better than what you see on postcards and/or Google. It's breathtaking!

There's a lot of other things to do in Bohol. We just didn't have a chance to experience all of them since we have our kids with us and it has been raining most of our stay. Hence, we decided not to take the other tours. But still, we had so much fun during our stay.

I must say, Bohol is underrated. It is indeed a gem that sometimes doesn't get as much attention as other popular tourist destinations, but it has a lot to offer for those who take the time to explore its wonders. From its iconic Chocolate Hills to the adorable tarsiers, pristine beaches, and rich cultural heritage, Bohol provides a diverse and enriching travel experience.

There were lots of place to visit and activities to experience. Locals are also very nice and hospitable. Though it's a little pricey, it's definitely worth visiting.

Tips:

1.) Best time to visit is during summer so you can maximize the tours and visit other nearby islands and caves.

2.) You can ride a toktok for only Php 200 from your hotel to the airport, if you're flying back to Manila.

3.) There's a McDonald's and Jollibee few minutes walk away from Alona beach.