Read on if you are:

• planning to take IELTS (BC) and CBT (or other exams with Pearson Vue) at Cebu City from Iloilo
• looking for alternative ways to travel to Cebu from Iloilo (also Bacolod) apart from plane and vice versa
• looking for cheap accommodation options within Cebu City given your exam location
• looking for what to do or where to go next in between or after the test
• still working and you want to estimate how many days you need to leave

Again, this is a budget travel post mainly for a solo traveler so I will only mention the cheapest options per head, not necessarily recommended. If you’re not the type for that, or you have someone with you (because then you can split expenses) you can just click on the links to their specific websites to check more comfortable options.

Transportation

Iloilo to Cebu and vice versa by ferry

There are two shipping lines going to Cebu from Iloilo, Cokaliong and Trans-Asia. For specific schedule, click on the links to their websites, but put it simply, there’s a ferry everyday from Iloilo to Cebu and vice versa but MONDAYS, no Iloilo to Cebu, and SUNDAYS, no Cebu to Iloilo. Travel time is estimated to 12 hours but see below for differences between shipping lines and other things to note for based on my experience.

COKALIONG

• Faster: Leaves at 7:00 PM and usually arrives at the destination within 12 hours or earlier. I once arrived at Iloilo 6:00 AM.
• Cheapest accommodation is Economy, used to be P 800+ but when I checked their website as I write this, it’s priced at P 930. You get the sea breeze as your fan, this is better than Trans-Asia in this sense because you get maximum sea breeze whereas with TA, your bed is kind of enclosed. Only downside is if it’s raining or there’s a storm. I experienced that and I wasn’t able to sleep most of the night. Blankets and linens are not provided.

• Depending on the specific ferry (Ozamis or Nasipit), your next option is an airconditioned Lounge which is really just a lounge area, no beds for P 965. Or, Tourist for P 1,030 where you can rent a blanket and linen for free, just provide an ID. There are also plugs installed in the bunk beds.

TRANS-ASIA

• Slower: Leaves at 6:00 PM and usually arrives at the destination more than 12 hours after, usually around 9:00 AM the next day.
• Cheapest accommodation is the 2nd Class Non-Aircon for P 800. Theirs is better than Cokaliong because their economy beds have plugs and light. Though, it can get really stuffy like one time there was a storm and they covered the ship, plus that their lower bunk beds are enclosed.
• Next option is the Tourist for P 885. Same stuff with the economy option but within an airconditioned room.

Via Bacolod Option: RORO/Fast craft + RORO Bus combo

You can try this option maybe if you have travel plans within Negros. I tried this once because I have time to travel within the day and so that by night, I’ll be in Cebu and take a night’s rest before the exam in the morning the next day.

ILOILO to BACOLOD and vice versa, you have two options. I’ll give estimates only so you can search for other blog entries which are specifically dedicated to this topic.

From ILOILO CITY (LAPUZ) PORT to BACOLOD (BREDCO) PORT and vice versa

• Fare starts at P 240 for regular non-aircon
• Travel time from 1.5 to 2 hours
• Schedule from 6 AM to 6 PM vice versa, but beyond that, FastCat has 11 PM Bacolod to Iloilo and 2 AM Iloilo to Bacolod schedule
• Terminal fee of P 30 at Iloilo Port and P 20 from Bacolod Port

From DUMANGAS PORT to BACOLOD (BREDCO) PORT and vice versa

• Fare starts at P 70 for regular passengers; fare depends on the shipping lines, please see below
• Travel time approximately 2 hours
• Schedule almost every hour
• Terminal fee of P 30 at Dumangas Port and P 10 from Bacolod Port

Inside was airconditioned with TV, but you can also go sit outside, just the same price.

• I haven’t tried commuting to and from Iloilo City by bus or jeep but by tricycle, fare ranges from P 60 to P 80 per head to/from Tagbak terminal within Iloilo City.

Upon reaching Bacolod, take a trike from the port to the Bacolod Terminal, then take a bus to Cebu. I’ve tried two routes:

• via Don Salvador which is the shorter route, approximately 7-8 hours, and costs around P 550
• via Escalante which is the longer but more scenic route, approximately 9-10 hours, and costs around P 585

So from Bacolod terminal, the bus will take you to San Carlos Port where you will ride the RORO (cross the sea) to Toledo Port in Cebu. Then from the port by bus to Cebu North Bus Terminal. Or vice versa.

Taray Options

Maybe you want to chill after the exam sucked your soul out of you, LOL. I did it after my IELTS exam where I went to Moalboal then Bantayan. Since Bantayan is already in the northernmost part of Cebu, it’s close to Estancia, Iloilo, so you don’t have to go back to Cebu City. I didn’t go through this route though because at that time, the boat was not in operation, but it is now.

Take note, though, that from Cebu City, you will arrive at Santa Fe Port (where most of the beaches are) which is different from Bantayan Port within the Bantayan town proper where boats to Estancia are. Habal-habal from Santa Fe to Bantayan may cost you P 100.

You can either take another tour in Isla Gigantes upon arriving in Estancia or take a bus to Iloilo City (Ceres Terminal) for P 150+.

Alternatively, also from Bantayan Port, there’s a boat to Cadiz, Negros Occidental.

• Fare Bantayan to Cadiz and vice versa: P 300
• Travel time approximately 2-3 hours

From Cadiz, you can take a trip to Lakawon, or just go straight to Bacolod. Ceres AC bus to Bacolod Bus Terminal costs P 105 and ordinary bus to Libertad, Bacolod costs around P 65.

 

Getting around Cebu City

Getting around the city is pretty easy, especially that jeepney routes can be found in Google Maps. I also love that Cebu City jeepneys have routes that can be easily remembered, just a combination of a letter and a number.

Grab is also possible as well as habal-habal. I usually manage to go to my interview or exam venues, in semi-formal clothes, in a habal-habal. You might want to avoid traffic during peak times.

Accommodation

I usually stay at hostels because they’re cheap. So far with my experience, roommates weren’t a hassle at all because they’re usually out all day touring or they’re out partying or drinking all night. Also, I mostly utilize the common area or a certain spot to study, and make use of the Free WiFi, too, to find online resources (or stream some videos when I’m too tired studying).

Cebu City Center Inn

Not close to an exam center, but this was close to IT Park, if it’s a place you’re looking to go to during your free time. Also, I was able to study at their tables outside to prepare for an interview.

• Booked via Booking.com for P 800 for 2 nights in a dorm room, although one of my roommates told me she booked hers via Agoda for P 200+ a night.

Hey Fellas Guesthouse

I initially booked for a mixed dorm fan room for P 500 for 2 nights. I unexpectedly arrived in Cebu at around 9 or 10 AM via ferry, and I have my IELTS Speaking Test at around 2 PM that day, so when I arrived, I asked if it was possible to be checked in earlier so I can freshen up and take a nap because I badly needed it.

But there was no available bed yet (understandable, it’s not yet check out time), so they offered me the 2-bed fan room, I just have to add P 50 per night, and maybe transfer to the mixed dorm the next day. I decided to keep the room for duration of my stay since I had the room to myself the first night, thus me having time for last-minute studying for the written exam. The other bed was only occupied the second night, and she wasn’t a bother at all.

I chose this hostel because this time, the IELTS exam venue was at Parklane Hotel, and it’s just walking distance (about 1.3 km). Also nearby was the Ayala Mall, and Mango Avenue (for some nightlife).

I had an experience here though, annoying as it happened, but funny when I think of it now. The night before the written tests, there were loud and noisy people drinking downstairs. Instead of taking some practice tests, I decided to just sleep, but that proved too difficult too. I thought they were the hostel’s guests but the next day, I found out it was the neighbor’s group of friends celebrating someone’s birthday. Well, I did my written exams without too much sleep because of that. Thankfully, the sleeplessness didn’t affect my scores.

Friendly’s Guesthouse

I booked online for P 750 for 3 nights for a mixed dorm fan room, and they indeed have the same rate if you just walk in. Their dining table or their common area was almost always empty that time, and I was only with one other guest most of the time in the room so I had plenty of quiet moments and a space for studying.

This was just near Hey Fellas but this one was strategically located along the road so it’s easy to spot on, just right in front of the USC – North Campus. Thus, it’s walking distance (1.2 km with the shortcut just across the street) to Parklane Hotel if that’s your exam venue, Ayala Mall, and Mango Avenue.

Sugbutel

This one’s pretty easy. The CBT is given by Pearson Vue and their center was within the Sugbutel building. Sugbutel is near the Cebu piers and walking distance to SM City Cebu. This can be a good affordable option also if your exam’s venue is Radisson Blu which was just beside SM City Cebu. Only downside I found was that aside from the convenience store downstairs, which apparently closes around 11 PM, there were no nearby restaurants open at unholy hours in the night.

I chose an airconditioned room because anyway, I was just staying for one night. Their non-aircon bunk bed starts at P 315.

Exam Venues

PARKLANE HOTEL

As mentioned, this was near Ayala Malls so it’s very easy to find an affordable accommodation nearby. Commuting is also easy because the jeepney terminal is walking distance as well.

SMEAG GLOBAL EDUCATION INC.

Address: 2815 C&L building S. Cabahug St. Corner Gochan St. Mabolo City

The location is not easily accessible. There is only one jeepney route that passes by this school (03B). You can just take a taxi or habal-habal to go here. There are few options in regards to nearby accommodation.

This is also the venue for the computer-delivered IELTS as it launched in Cebu just recently.

MISNET EDUCATION INC. – CEBU CITY

Address: Unit 401, Don A. Gothong Center (SUGBUTEL), Sergio Osmena Boulevard, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City

This is just walking distance to SM City Cebu and Radisson Blu. This is also near Cebu Pier and Cebu North Bus Terminal.

Where To?

In between or after tests, there are plenty of places to go to within and around Cebu City.

• IT Park
• Ayala Malls
• SM City Cebu or SM Seaside
• Mango Avenue
• Fort San Pedro (especially if you have time to spare before the ferry leaves)
• Other tourist destinations: Magellan’s Cross, Temple of Leah, Taoist temple, etc.

I’ve never really appreciated Cebu before, but because of that one trip to Cebu (not for leisure), I realized taking exams in Cebu wasn’t only for the reason that it’s closer to Iloilo, thus cheaper, than taking exams in Manila. I personally decided to take exams there because it’s a place I can easily chill right after a nerve-racking day of exam or interview. And with my itchy feet pushing for some adventure, Cebu is an easy choice because of the many places you can go to from north to south of the island.

Bonus: Sample Schedule and Budget

So now, let’s say you still have work, and let’s say you’re taking the IELTS exam, with your speaking exam (afternoon) two days from your written tests. Well, plane option is probably the smartest choice, but just in case the flights are all too expensive, let’s try a mix-and-match of the things I mentioned above.

You can take three days off, or maybe two days off plus one day leave, and request this schedule:

am – off – off – off -pm/night

If you see any discrepancies or you know some other options, or any topic you want me to cover, feel free to contact me.