Choosing a place to stay at in Panglao Island is a daunting task even if we already had a budget in mind. We had to choose between Alona beach, a stretch of beach with a wide range of resort, restaurant and entertainment choices or the area of Bohol Beach Club and Dumaluan Beach Resort with the better sand. After reading travel books, lurking on internet sites and forums, and interviewing friends who have visited Panglao Island, we decided to stay at Alona Beach.
Alona beach may disappoint some people. The sand, while white, isn't as fine as what you see in Boracay or Palawan. There are some corals, rocks, and sometimes even seaweeds, mixed in the sand. The restaurants that had good reviews online served ordinary-tasting food, and some of the entertainment bands were a torture to watch (there was a time when I just wanted to get on stage and grab the mic!).
After a couple of so-so meals, we just walked on the beach and chose a restaurant based on the price on the menu, the smile of the servers and the temperature of their beers. The criteria worked for us because we got to eat inexpensive grilled meals which we enjoyed with our chilled drinks. (If you really want delicious meals, try the restaurant at Amorita, pricey but worth the money.)
I also loved watching the dozens of boats docked on the shores of Alona beach. I loved how these vessels, which were all painted white, bobbed in rhythm to the sound of the waves.
But the gem of alona beach is the fish sanctuary near Amorita resort. There were plenty of fish and you only need to swim a few meters from the shore to see them. They weren't as big and colorful as the ones in Balicasag Island, but I really loved the fact that you don't need to ride a boat to get to the wall (or the drop to the deep blue sea where the fish usually swim).
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