Hi.....again

[Scrutiny61]

I'm not exactly new here but it's a while since I used the site and I'm now with a different partner, so hello again to everyone who previously posted and hi to all new people

My girlfriend lives in Iligan City and we've known each other for three years and have been together as a couple for a year on May 13th.

I plan to visit her end of July beginning of August and would, as always, be very grateful for advice re cheap flights hotels etc in Cebu (where we plan to meet).

many thanks to all in anticipation of some friendly chats & postings

Kind regards

[mickcant]

Welcome back
Sorry I cannot help with flight info the last time I went there was in 2008.
Others will be more able.
Mick.

[Scrutiny61]

No worries Mick

[stevewool]

always try skyscanner for your flights, that will give you a starting block to work from, just a quick tip if you are happy with the cost of the flight book it, do not keep looking it will only get you down, try and book way in advance too, it does work out cheaper, also try different airports too, hotels i have no idea

[Scrutiny61]

Thanks Steve. Hotels will probably be less of a problem as have already seen some good deals on various sites Radisson Blue looks good as they do some discounted room deals.

The flight I'm more worried about in terms of cost & amount of stops etc. Would be indebted to anyone who could give me a rough estimate of what I should be paying/is reasonable for a flight to Cebu in July/August

Cheers

[bhem_bhem]

I swear i know u but I can't remember ur name..

Bout flights, I usually pay between 700-800 from Manc to Cebu.

[Ako Si Jamie]

It might be a good idea to check flights from Manchester & Heathrow to Manila and promo flights onto Cebu. Could save you a few quid. It might seem like a lot of hassle but I went from Birmingham - Heathrow - Kuwait City - Manila - Bacolod - Sipalay in the space of a few days just stopping overnight in Manila.

Also, I find the prices of flights tend to go higher around two months before the time you want to go.

[stevewool]

sometime the quickest way may not be the cheapest, check every way you can a stop over in another country too, so you have 2 sorts of holidays, lots of people have flown so many different ways, its been a year or so since we have , jamie has just come back from his tour of the phils and it seems he went everywhere, so seek his advice

[Ako Si Jamie]

Just done a quick search and prices & times differ big time.

August 1st to August 22nd for instance....cheapest flights.

Manchester-Cebu £1,006 22hrs/28hrs
Heathrow-Cebu £1,028 30hrs/34hrs
Heathrow-Manila £649 21hrs/18hrs
Manchester-Manila £527 30hrs/43hrs

[Ako Si Jamie]

Just had a look on Tiger Airways website and flights in early August from Manila to Cebu are going for 499 peso's (+luggage) for a single journey.

[Arthur Little]

I'm not exactly new here but it's a while since I used the site and I'm now with a different partner, so hello again to everyone who previously posted and hi to all new people

back ... from an "old stager"!

My girlfriend lives in Iligan City and *we've known each other for three years and have been together as a couple for a year on May 13th.

I plan to visit her end of July beginning of August and would, as always, be very grateful for advice re cheap flights hotels etc in Cebu (where we plan to meet).

My, my ... tempus fugit! , it's *time the pair of you met ... and wish you both well.

many thanks to all in anticipation of some friendly chats & postings

... well, it's now 41/2 years' past since MY last visit - hence I'm a bit out of touch, myself. But several OTHER members have undertaken the trip far more recently... and so, will be in a much better position to update you regarding air fares, hotel costs &c. Goodluck!

[Scrutiny61]

Thanks to all for great advice. After talking it over with my gf we think it might be good to meet in Manila wherein she can book flights to Cebu from Phils in advance; will probably be cheaper this way and means we'll probably stay overnight in Manila which kinda breaks the journey up a bit for me. There does seem to be a big difference in price from Manchester to Cebu as opposed to Manchester - Manila. Manila = £550 - £800. Cebu = £800 - £1100

Cheers to all for the advice

[grahamw48]

Oooh....September for me then.

Manchester-Manila...£514 with China Southern. (Skyscanner).

Don't care if it has an outside bog.

Always cheaper outside our holiday seasons.

[SimonH]

Have a look to see what 'local' airlines fly to Cebu, Tiger Air/Cebu Air etc, and then look to see what deals they have running. Sometimes works out cheaper to fly to Singapore or Hong Kong then change airline, just remember to leave a 4 hour gap between flights as you'll have to collect your luggage and then check back in again.

[Scrutiny61]

hahaha if only I could travel outside holiday season. I work in education so I kinda have to book peak times :-(

[Scrutiny61]

yeah, my gf will probably look for some cheap domestic flights. Ironically it will probably work out cheaper for me to fly from Manc to Manila then both of us fly from Manila to Cebu (on a cheap deal) than it would be for me to book a ticket straight from Manc to Cebu

:-)

[Michael Parnham]

Try STA they have an office in Manchester, I use them regularly and find them very competitive, in the past three years I've paid as little as £310 and no more than £625 the cheap flight was with KLM and the other two flights were with Qatar, if your dates are flexible you stand a better chance of a decent price. You will find STA on the internet and then you will be able to access your local branch tel No and address. Good Luck!

[grahamw48]

Thanks for the reminder Michael.

They had/have a branch at York Uni', and I once got a good deal thru them too.

[Ako Si Jamie]

Thanks for that tip Michael

[irishman12]

Hi scrutiny ,may I know what reason you wont go to illigan or even cdo ? the new airport is supposed to open on june 15 and is going to be nearer to illigan than old cdo airport ,we were in illigan last month , as mentioned on another thread zest air merged with airasia and they have very cheap flights at present -promo fare one way to Cebu is approx. 537 peso ,add 280 peso for 20kg check in bags ,you can book these flights online from uk but have to add another 134 peso per way if using credit card to pay . 200 term fee will be included in flights departing manila and Cebu .so total cost of one way to Cebu still under 1000 peso.

[irishman12]

be careful if booking on tiger airways -they are always changing schedules -they will e-mail to offer flight next day after the one you have booked and the only way you can get them to give you another schedule is by calling hotline in manila ,from end of june -they are stopping mnl -Davao flights ,just like zest air did last year with mnl-cdo flights .

[Scrutiny61]

Hi Irishman, thx for your reply. yeah it seems like the best deals can be got from domestic airlines & my gf will look into these.

We decided not to stay in Illigan for our first meeting as there are some complex family issues and we thought it would be nice to just have time to ourselves for our first meeting; no stress, no pressure etc.

The next time I go to Phils will be to meet the family etc