Service: Ocean Jet via Luzviminda Travel and Tours

Here's a review of my experience purchasing Ocean Jet e-tickets from Luzviminda Travel and Tours and travelling from Cebu to Bohol via the Ocean Jet ferry.

Before the earthquake that struck Bohol last October, going to Bohol via a ferry from Cebu was easy. You can simply go to the pier/port and buy ferry tickets on the day of your trip. But after this disaster, they said that it's now more difficult to purchase ferry tickets from Cebu to Bohol - you have to buy at least a week or two in advance.

That was a problem, because we are in Laguna and I cannot possibly go to Cebu a week before our trip to Bohol. We will be in Cebu 4 days before, and I thought that was sufficient enough. But that's taking a risk, according to some people, and the last thing I wanted is to botch our Cebu-Bohol vacation.

So I had to find a way to buy ferry tickets online. I registered at 2Go's Supercat website and waited for days to get a reservation. I never did. We then tried calling the branches listed in the website, but they all said that their Supercat connections were offline, which means they can't sell Supercat tickets. When we called their helpdesk, they told us that they're not sure if they have a scheduled Cebu-Tagbilaran trip on our travel dates.

We also tried calling the travel agencies in the Ocean Jet website, but to no avail. We were getting frustrated. But I wasn't giving up yet. I decided to search for other ways to travel to Bohol from Cebu and found out about the Cebu-Tubigon route. But none of the Tubigon-bound ferries sell advance tickets so we have to buy the tickets on the day itself. A bit risky, but at least that's an option.

Then out of the blue, I just thought of searching how to buy an Ocean Jet e-ticket and I saw two websites selling Ocean Jet e-tickets: one is AsiaTravel and the other is Luzviminda Travel and Tours. I sent emails to both, inquiring about Cebu-Tagbilaran e-tickets. But LTT also provided a Skype account in their website, which I promptly added to my contact list, hoping to get in touch with them in the morning (it was already 9 p.m.).

I was surprised when my invite was accepted a few minutes later and the account was online. So we chatted, and their Skype support assisted me while I purchase our e-ticket. He was even kind enough to extend the promo rate to me, which is available only when purchasing 14 days before the trip, even if I only have a week before our travel date.

I chose Tourist class seats for P560/person (promo rate) and 2 p.m. schedule. The best thing is they accept payment through Paypal, so I was able to send my payment right away. I just added 5% to cover the transaction fees. If you don't have a Paypal account, you may also pay via bank deposit.

After I made the purchase, they sent me a confirmation receipt and told me that the e-ticket will be emailed to me not later than December 3. The person I was chatting with was very helpful and accommodating, and I was just too grateful to secure ferry tickets to Bohol.

Before we left for Cebu, I asked them if they can send the e-ticket so I can print it while we're still at home. But they were having problems with their system and said that they'll send it to me as soon as they can. To be honest, although the online transaction went well, I was a bit worried if they will really send the e-ticket. This is my first experience dealing with a travel agency that I only found online and wasn't exactly sure how things go.

But when I checked my email at the airport, Luzviminda Travel and Tours had sent the e-tickets as they promised - not later than December 3. And all my doubts were erased. (They even left a message in my Skype account, apologizing for not being able to send it earlier, as I requested.)

We look for a place to print the e-ticket. Actually, they don't encourage you to print the e-ticket but rather present the online copy using a smartphone or tablet. But my iPhone doesn't have a PDF reader and I feel it's safer and more convenient to present a printed ticket than an online copy. So I printed it anyway.

The Ocean Jet terminal is stationed in Pier 1, Cebu City. When we got there, I just asked the lady guard where to present the e-ticket and pointed me to the check-in counter for Ocean Jet ferries. There was a long queue, but the line moved fast. Checking in was quick, and all they did was verify my e-tickets and issue me 2 boarding passes. I was advised that boarding time is 1:45 p.m. After that, we checked in our baggage and paid the terminal fee of  P25.00 per person.

Inside the waiting area, I wasn't sure where to go. I asked D to take a seat as I went to approach a cluster of passengers who look like they were lining up for something. I asked what was the line for and one woman said it's for Ormoc-bound ferry. So I just joined D and waited for further announcement.

At around 1:45 p.m., they announced that the Bohol-bound ferry has arrived and we were told to proceed to Gate 7. At 2:00 p.m., we started boarding and the ferry left the pier 30 minutes later.


Traveling with Ocean Jet

I chose Tourist Class seats, which are in an air-conditioned passenger section located at the lower deck. The seats weren't the most comfortable, in fact they were hardly comfortable because they were too compact, there was barely an elbowroom and certainly not much legroom, and the back of the seat has a 90-degree inclination. (I am petite but I am still complaining, so imagine what the tall and big passengers are going through). But there is a TV to distract you and being in an air-conditioned room meant you will emerge fresh from the 2-hour trip. I was even able to sleep.

We arrived at the Tagbiliran port at 4:30 p.m. We were very tired, having gone from Camotes Island straight to Bohol (which is more or less 6 hours of traveling plus a few hours of waiting time in between), but our trip from Cebu to Bohol via Ocean Jet was smooth and relatively prompt.

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Ocean Jet via Luzviminda Travel and Tours
Web: http://oceanjet.luzvimindatravelandtours.com/
Email: oceanjet@luzvimindatravelandtours.com
Skype/YM: luzvimindatravelandtours
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/oceanjetlibrebalikpromo.page
Phone Nos: (Manila)  +63(2)6229632
                   (Cebu) +63(32)4167479
Mobile: +63(917)6257776
              +63(920)9577759
              +63(932)8677768

Place: Bohol Bee Farm Resort and Restaurant

After our short but enjoyable sojourn at South Palms Resorts, we moved to Bohol Bee Farm for an overnight stay before flying back to Manila the following day. Bohol Bee Farm is a resort and restaurant that offers a glimpse of Bohol countryside living. If you grew up in the province and are yearning to experience that simple, unassuming Filipino barrio life again, you'll be in for a treat.

 

 

Booking and Check-in

 

I booked a Garden Room through Agoda. After the earthquake that shook and damaged some of Bohol's heritage churches and tourist attractions, I sent an email to Bohol Bee Farm inquiring about the status of the resort. Reply came fast and we were assured their place is safe.

 

I also changed our stay dates through Agoda but didn't email them about it anymore. When we got there, check-in went smoothly (as most of my Agoda bookings did) and we were soon led to our room.

 



 

The Room

 

If South Palms Resort resembles a posh village, Bohol Bee Farm is a typical barrio in the province. Everything is spot on, from the kind of plants and trees grown, to the building materials used, to the cemented "pasilyos". It felt like walking down memory lane - back to the time of my childhood when we would visit relatives in the province.

 

A very barrio-looking neighborhood

  

Our room: the Eggplant Room

I like that the rooms were made to look like small wooden houses and each was named after a vegetable, which also serves as the theme of the room. Ours was Eggplant Room.

 

The front porch

Inside the room, the first thing I noticed was it's size: it's big. The walls and floors were made of wooden planks, the furniture and decors were of wood and other native materials. And yes, there's a distinct Eggplant theme.

 

The bed with purple beddings, the walls in light purple paint.

Clothes rack, sofa and more purple wall decors. There's a small cable TV next to the clothes rack
and below it, a mini bar and refrigerator (not shown in the image).

Fronting the bed: Mirror, writing table, door to the bathroom, main door. Almost everything is made of wood.

Even the bathroom is in with the theme. Inside, you'll get the basic of the basic essentials: toilet and shower (with heater), and soap and shampoo (organic products from the shop).

The very simple T&B

No doubt, our room was very "eggplant-y"

 

 

 The Food and Restaurant

Bohol Bee Farm has 4 restaurants, although I think they offer the same menu in all 4. The only difference is the location of these restaurants. Our favorite, of course, are the ones with the magnificent view of the ocean.





We ordered the famous lunch/dinner buffet. Actually, it's not a buffet but a platter consisting of the restaurant's bestsellers. The platter is good for 2 (very big serving size) and costs P650/person. There are other platter options for larger groups (the more, the cheaper per person).

Freshly-baked Camote Bread, Pesto and Mango Spreads, Cab-cab and Tomato-Pesto dip

The very refreshing Lemongrass Juice with a hollow stalk as a natural straw.

Our favorite: Seafood Soup - has shrimp, squid, fish, clams and organic vegetables in a flavorful seafood stock

Colorful Organic Garden Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing (and edible flowers!)

Seafood Lasagna, Honey Glazed Chicken, Spareribs and Grilled Blue Marlin

Organic Red Rice

Homemade Tomato and Malunggay Ice Cream in Cab-cab cone (the Malunggay is underneath the Tomato)



The food was good, and the variety and serving size made it very filling. However, we thought that the taste of dishes we're nothing out of the ordinary. They were tasty but not really special (perhaps our tastebuds were still dazzled by the sumptuous food we had at South Palms Resort). We enjoyed the Seafood Soup a lot though, and this was the highlight of the meal for us. Eating edible flowers was definitely a new experience, too.

The homemade ice creams were interesting but D didn't like it. I like that they are not too sweet and they deviate from regular ice cream flavors, but thought they'd taste better if they're creamier. But the Cab-cab cone was a winner for me. The crisp and slight saltiness of the cone marries well with the sweetness of the ice cream.

 

But what I really like about eating in Bohol Bee Farm is they serve organic foods. You can taste that they use fresh herbs and vegetables harvested from their farm.

 

 

The Bakery and Ice Cream Store

 

The Resort's Amenities

 

Bohol Bee Farm offers a tour around the resort (free for resort guests), spa services and they also have a souvenir shop for the imperative "pasalubong" shopping. 

 

Organic Garden of Vegetables and Herbs

 

A rustic Nativity Scene or "Belen"



The resort is littered with wooden benches, because going around this huge property can be tiring

Bohol Bee Farm has a main swimming pool located inside a cave. They also have small plunge pools with sun loungers located in an open, lush area with a view of the ocean. This looks very relaxing, but the water in the pools don't really look tempting.

Plunge pools with a lounge area

 

For those who want to take a dip in the sea, the Sun Deck, located below the restaurant is your access to the water. But make sure to bring your aqua shoes/booties because this part of the ocean has many sea urchins.

Sun Deck Area

Don't expect to find a beach here because the resort is located on a cliff. The view is still breathtaking, nonetheless.

View from the Sun Deck

 

The Buzz Souvenir Shop

 

The souvenir shop was a large, old house converted into a store, and it offers a lot of products to bring back home. We bought mostly bottles of their spreads and packs of Cab-cab crackers.

 

 

 

 

Service

 

Overall, service was good. The staff were helpful and nice, although don't expect everyone to smile or greet you (we didn't and it's okay). The guy at the reception area was very friendly and even helped us with our luggage during check-in and check-out. Airport transfers are already included in the accommodation, and I really appreciate that our driver, upon learning that we only have an hour before our schedule flight to Manila, did his best to bring us to the airport as fast as possible.

 

 

The Verdict

 

After staying in a luxury resort for 3 days, you can say that moving to a countryside resort was a big shift. But in no way, it felt like a downgrade. Bohol Bee Farm doesn't have the modern amenities of a more high-end accommodation, and rightly so. This is a countryside resort and people who plan to stay here should that keep in mind. Like what I said earlier, this resort offers a glimpse of the typical Filipino countryside living - for those who want to relive it and those who want to experience it for the first time.

 

This sprawling property is a welcome respite from the hush and hurried life in the city, and is a suitable sanctuary for nature lovers, but not beach lovers (again, they have no beach, just a splendid view of the sea). You will be surrounded by plants and trees, so expect to encounter insects (although we didn't encounter any inside our room). Bring your anti-mosquito/bug/anything lotions if you're sensitive. Rooms and villas, as well as the furniture in the resort, are mostly made of wood and other native materials. They may look old and worn out to some, but in my opinion, they add perfectly to the rustic charm and authentic countryside feel of the place.

 

If you can leave all your modern-day expectations and your purpose of staying is to relax and commune with nature, Bohol Bee Farm is a highly recommended resort.

 

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Bohol Bee Farm Resort and Restaurant

Web: http://www.boholbeefarm.com/

Email: vickywallace@boholbeefarm.com

Phone No.:  +6338.5101822

Mobile Nos: +63917.7101062

                     +63932.8832126
                     +63939.9046796
                     +63917.3041491

Place: Bolod Beach, Panglao Island, Bohol

Said to be the longest and best shoreline in Panglao Island, Bolod Beach is a 1 1/2-kilometer stretch of unspoiled white-sand beach and is located at the southern part of the island. Unlike its more popular neighbor, Alona Beach, Bold Beach is a quieter, less crowded area which allows tourist to enjoy the beach more. This is the reason why I chose an accommodation in Bolod Beach.

When my husband told me that he will be working during our vacation, I knew that we won't likely be able to do our planned Bohol tours. So I thought at least, I can make it feel more holiday-like by staying at the most beautiful beach in Panglao Island.

And how does Bolod Beach fare? Let's take a look:

 

  

Captivating, isn't it? Indeed, the view is spectacular. The blue sky is seamless with the clear azure waters, and both are in perfect contrast with the verdant green landscape and cream-white sand of the island.

However, when we first strolled the beach, early morning of our 2nd day, the first thing that we noticed are the algae, shells and dead corals that littered the shore. This made it not comfortable to walk barefoot in some areas.



Large, dark patches in the water also caught our attention. When we went closer, we found out these are mini coral gardens where a few marine creatures have taken shelter.

Starfish in the water

Sea Urchin on the sand

D holding a small starfish

And a bigger one

Sea Urchin in the water

At first, I thought this is so cool, that even in the shallow areas of the beach, marine life is abundant - just goes to prove how rich and teeming Bohol's seabed is. But this can be alarming for children who usually frolic near the shore because they can get stung by sea urchins or something else (I'm not sure if starfish bites). There are sections near the shore and past the coral gardens that are bare and seemingly safe to swim in. I guess it will be up to parents to steer clear their kids from these "inhabited" parts.

So what do I think of Bolod Beach?

Annoying as it is to be always comparing all the beaches you've been to, to Boracay, I can't help it. While Boracay isn't exactly algae-free, you can walk on its sand without fear of being wounded or getting stubbed. The soft, powder-fine white sand is consistent over a large area of Boracay's shore. Its sand also stays cool under the heat of the sun.

Bolod Beach's sand isn't as fine and as we strolled the stretch of the shoreline in front of South Palms Resort and Bohol Beach Club, it is obvious that the quality of the sand varies. It tends to get coarse and rocky towards the end of the resort (the one nearing the cliff that separates Bolod Beach to Alona Beach); the best part is in front of Bohol Beach Club and the adjacent half of South Palms Resort. The sand also warms up as the sun peaks.

Bolod Beach is beautiful, no doubt about that - the water is crystal clear and everything about it looks pristine - but I guess I just expected too much. Even my husband was a little disappointed.

But then, a surprise came the next morning. We weren't planning to stroll the beach anymore but when I looked outside our villa, I saw a band of blinding white sand that had appeared a few meters away from the shore. A mini-sandbar!

 

 

 

 

 

You need to get past the mini coral garden to reach it, but the water stays knee-deep. On the sandbar, I found the super fine, milk-powdery white sand that I was pinning for the day before. I'm not sure if this sandbar is temporary as I haven't read anything about this. But it sure was a treat for us. From this vantage point, everything we look at was simply marvelous.

However (there always seems to be a catch), as I was scrubbing myself with the sand, I noticed a tiny worm wriggling on my sand-covered skin. I was reminded of that show "The Monster Inside Me" where small parasites get inside a human host and the worst things happen. So immediately, I rinsed myself in the sea and went back to our room to have a proper bath.

Despite that, I still had fun in the sandbar. I just hope that no worm got inside me. *Crossing my fingers*
 

 

 

And because of this sandbar in Bolod Beach, we were able to enjoy and had a wonderful beach experience. I hope we will see it again the next time we visit Bohol.