Mar 25, 2025
Our only activity for the day was to check out, get to the airport, and take a flight to our next island destination of Bohol. Meant that we had a leisurely start to the day. Would you believe there was actually coffee for breakfast! However, when we tasted it, we realised that we had dodged a bullet on the other two mornings. Had the last half a bowl of cornflakes on offer for my continental breakfast, and then we headed down the street to our favourite coffee shop.
At least they make decent coffee, or at least they would if the power hadn’t gone off just as we paid. Stuck around for a while, but in the end we wandered down the street to the bakery to get supplies for lunch, and luckily by the time we arrived back at the coffee shop the power had returned.
Checked out and took the mini buses to the local airport. An interesting experience when we turned into a resort, and headed down the roads between the various villas following signs to the airport. Turned out that it’s a local airstrip belonging to the resort being served by one airline with only a few flights per day to different holiday destinations in the country. Meant that check-in was rather a circus as you had to go through security before you got to check in. The couple of food vendors were before security and before check in, and they weren’t allowing drinks through the security line even though you were only flying domestic. All of that meant that they weren’t doing much business. Bit silly really (just don’t bother asking ‘why?’). You were allowed liquids in your checked baggage, but not in your carry-on. However, this was before checkin, so you could put your liquids in your suitcase through the detectors, then move them into your carry-on before you lodged your suitcase. They nabbed Mandy’s juice, but didn’t pick up my juice, water or coke.
Took forever to be processed, but this is the Philippines. The boarding lounge was absolutely chockers, but we found a seat and waited patiently for our aircraft. No signs, no boards and unintelligible announcements meant that the plan of attack was basically to sit there and see what happened.
Even though the aircraft had been sitting on the tarmac since before we arrived, we still boarded late. Another ATR 42. Given that the 42 stands for 42 seat capacity, and that our party with guides was 34, it felt like a charter flight with a few startled extras. Took off downwind, which was a bit disconcerting.
Arrived at 3 and were almost the only people in the Bohol airport. Shuttled to the resort, and given a briefing. Six pages of ‘don’ts’ awaiting us in the room. Early dinner in the resort restaurant – the only eating option for miles around, so they’ve got it sown up, but the meal was lovely, and the view of the beach as darkness fell was very relaxing.
Bohol Beach Club
The resort’s beach
Our room at the Bohol Beach Club