Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A BETTER KIND OF TRAVEL
At Rough Guides we are passionately committed to travel. We believe it helps us understand
the world we live in and the people we share it with - and of course tourism is vital to many
developing economies. But the scale of modern tourism has also damaged some places
irreparably, and climate change is accelerated by most forms of transport, especially flying. All
Rough Guides' flights are carbon-offset, and every year we donate money to a variety of
environmental charities.
The
Singapore-Manila
route (3hr 30min) is very
competitive, served by Philippine Airlines, Singapore
Airlines, Jetstar Asia Airways, Tigerair and Cebu Pacific
from S$120 (US$90).
Handy
regional flights
include a Silk Air service
(3 weekly; 3hr 50min) linking Singapore with
Davao
(Mindanao), a Malaysia Airlines flight between Kota
Kinabalu (Sabah) and
Puerto Princesa
(3 weekly;
1hr 30min) and a China Airlines flight between
Taipei (Taiwan) and
Laoag
(northern Luzon).
Kalibo
International Airport
, serving Boracay (see p.327),
has nonstop flights to Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei
and Singapore.
Singapore Airlines
W
singaporeair.com
Tigerair
W
tigerair.com
AGENTS AND OPERATORS
Absolute Travel
US
T
1800 736 8187,
W
absoluteasia.com.
Luxury tours to the Philippines that can be combined with other
destinations in Southeast Asia. The fourteen-day Highlights of the
Philippines tour includes Manila, Banaue, Sagada, Baguio, Bohol and
Cebu City (US$5255, excluding international flights).
Allways Dive Expeditions
Australia
T
1800 338 239 or
T
03
9885 8863,
W
allwaysdive.com.au. All-inclusive dive packages to
prime locations in the Philippines and Southeast Asia from Aus$720 for
seven nights (not including flights). Destinations in the Philippines
include Coron, Dumaguete, Malapascua, Moalboal, Donsol and Puerto
Galera. Also liveaboards to Cebu, Dauin, Tubbataha and Apo reefs, Coron
wrecks and Anilao (from Aus$2335).
Bamboo Trails Taiwan
T
886 7 7354945,
W
bambootrails.com.
Small travel company offering some unique group itineraries in the
Philippines, including the “Sugar Trail” through Negros and Siquijor.
Dive Worldwide
UK
T
0845 130 6980,
W
diveworldwide.com.
Specialist dive operator offering trips to a number of destinations in the
Philippines, including Tubbataha Reef, Coron, Bohol, Dumaguete and
Puerto Galera. A typical fourteen-day trip to Donsol to see the whale
sharks including flights, domestic transfers and accommodation starts
at £1955.
Grasshopper Adventures
UK
T
020 8123 8144, US
T
818 921
7101;
W
grasshopperadventures.com. Bicycle and guided tour
specialists, with a variety of bike tours all over Asia and a seven-day
guided tour of Bohol for US$1300.
North South Travel
UK
T
01245 608291,
W
northsouthtravel.co.uk.
Friendly travel agency offering discounted fares worldwide. Profits are used
to support projects in the developing world, especially the promotion of
sustainable tourism.
Philippine Island Connections
UK
T
020 7404 8877,
W
www
.pic-uk.com. Philippines specialist offering flights to the Philippines, plus
hotel bookings, holiday packages and tours. They also offer domestic flight
reservations, though it's often cheaper to book once you're in the Philippines.
STA Travel
UK
T
0871 2300 040, US
T
1800 781 4040, Australia
T
13 47 82, New Zealand
T
0800 474 400, South Africa
T
0861
781 781;
W
statravel.co.uk. Worldwide specialists in independent
travel; also student IDs, travel insurance, car rental, rail passes and more.
Good discounts for students and under-26s.
Trailfinders
UK
T
0845 058 5858, Ireland
T
01 677 7888,
Australia
T
1300 780 212;
W
trailfinders.com. One of the
best-informed and most e
cient agents for independent travellers.
By boat
Many unlicensed boats ply back and forth between
the Malaysian state of Sabah and the southern
Philippines, but these are considered unsafe for
tourists. At the time of writing the primary licensed
(and safer) ferry route linked
Zamboanga City
with
Sandakan
, Sabah (nonstop). Aleson Shipping ferries
(
T
062 991 2687,
W
aleson-shipping.com) depart
Zamboanga on Monday at 1.30pm and return on
Tuesday (around P3100; 20-24hr), but always check
the latest schedule in advance. Cheap bunk-bed
accommodation is usually available on deck, as well
as a limited number of cabins (from P3500).
There are no regular ferry services to northern
Sulawesi
(
Indonesia
) from the Philippines. Illegal,
small boats often make the trip from General
Santos; it's far safer and faster to fly via Manila
and Jakarta.
AIRLINES
AirAsia Zest
W
airasia.com
Cathay Pacific
W
cathaypacific.com
Cebu Pacific
W
cebupacificair.com
China Airlines
W
china-airlines.com
Delta Airlines
W
delta.com
Jetstar Asia Airways
W
jetstar.com
Korean Air
W
koreanair.com
Malaysia Airlines
W
malaysiaairlines.com
Philippine Airlines
W
philippineairlines.com
Qantas
W
qantas.com.au
Silk Air
W
silkair.com
