Pia’s guidebook

What to bring: lightweight dresses, shorts and T-shirts a few swimmers flip flops, the only footwear you will need your favourite toiletries & any medication you are taking hat & sunnies (it’s very glary in the water so the ones you don’t mind getting wet would be good) a sarong is versatile and handy to have (we provide beach towels) a Kindle, download books before you get here a small portable speaker. We usually travel with a Bose portable speaker, highly recommend for overseas guests, an adaptor for your devices. Laundry service is cheap and generally available the next day.

Avoid roaming charges and get a prepaid SIM at the airport. We use Globe. I suggest buying a 500 peso load. Then ask them to enrol you to this promo - GOSAKTO140. This will give you local calls to Globe users, text to any network and 4GB of data for 7 days. Cost 140 pesos, renewable if you are staying <7 days. Lots of promos on offer, took us months to work out the best one. DON’T go for any of the promos they advertise at the airport. It’s VERY expensive. Extra credit is handy in case you need to call a landline or a different network.

We have great wifi in the apartment. But when your out on the beach or a cosy cafe and want to sit back and listen to your own music or read a book it would be handy to have a little library on your phone.

A lot of the smaller shops and restaurants are cash only so will need to carry cash around. Big hotels and restaurants take credit card. Suggest withdrawing money at the airport. ATMs generally charge 250 pesos for each withdrawal using an international card and in most cases 10,000 pesos is the max you can withdraw each transaction. You can do multiple transactions but each one will cost 250 pesos. There are ATMs on the island , the nearest one is located inside Villa Caemilla, short walk from the apartment.

Start with breakfast at Lazy Dog in Bulabog, then walk the promenade and watch kite surfers. Head to Mount Luho lookout for fantastic views, Station 1 for a swim and notice how the sand is different to Angol, drive around New Coast and keyhole. Next Puka Beach, walk away from the crowd and you’ll find vendors with little tables & hammocks under the coconut trees - stop for a cold beer and grilled pork with rice for lunch. Go to Dinibeach bar after 4pm, have a cocktail and settle in for sunset and dinner. If you still have energy, cap it off with live music at Nigi Nigi.

Thank you - Salamat. Adding ‘po’ is a sign of respect esp to those older than you. Ie you can say ‘salamat po’. Kuya is older brother and Ate is older sister. If you want to get the attention of a waiter for example you can say ‘excuse me Kuya’.

Sockets here are 2 pronged and flat. We have adaptors and power boards at the apartment.

Etrikes are the normal mode of transportation around the island. You can easily hail them on the main road. We can also organise a one to pick you up to go to restaurants, shopping or island tour.