First-Timers Guide to Cebu, Philippines
Dubbed the Queen City of the South, Cebu is one of the Philippines’ top tourist destinations. With stunning tropical beaches, unique historical attractions, and delicious food, there are certainly many reasons why you should visit Cebu on your holiday to the Philippines. If you’re visiting Cebu for the first time, here are some tips to help make your trip a more enjoyable one.
Plan Ahead
Just like with traveling to any city around the world, it’s always important to plan ahead. This is especially true if you’re traveling during the peak season, such as in January, which is the Sinulog festival. Book your hotel as early as possible. Most hotel rooms in Cebu are fully booked during the festival.
If you plan on renting a car, look for a Cebu car rental company several months ahead of your trip. There are several reputable Cebu rent a car operator that would be willing to reserve the car of your choice for as long as you pay for it ahead.
Decide Where To Visit
It’s always a good idea to have an itinerary before you fly to Cebu. So decide which places you plan on visiting and draft an itinerary. If you are visiting some of the provinces in Cebu, consider the amount of time it would take for you to travel to the place. The famous provinces of Moalboal, Oslob, and Bantayan Island would take around 3 – 4 hours travel time from the city so take this into consideration when planning your trip.
If you want to reach your destination faster, look for a Cebu rent a car company and hire a car for a minimal fee. Taking the public bus would take longer since they would have to wait for passengers before leaving the terminal. Renting a car is more convenient and a faster way to get to the province.
Book a City Tour
Unlike Manila, Cebu does not have a train in the city yet, which is why navigating the city on your own might be difficult, if not expensive. So if you plan on exploring the city’s famous tourist places, such as the Magellan’s Cross, Santo Nino Shrine, and Fort San Pedro, it will be more practical to book a city tour. If you are traveling on your own, look for tour operators in Cebu that offer join-in tours. This means you’ll be joining other tourists in a group tour. Aside from saving money, this is a great opportunity to meet new friends.
If you have a valid driver’s license, another way to save money when exploring the city is to look for cheap rent a car in Cebu and hire a car. This is more practical if you’re traveling in a group. You can divide the cost, which is much cheaper than booking a tour. Simply download Google Maps on your phone and use it as your guide to exploring Cebu. Again, it is important to book your car rental as early as possible, especially if you’re visiting during the busy season.
