I Traveled With 2GO To Boracay & I Think You Should Too!

Boracay is one of the few famous destinations in the country that accept tourists despite the current COVID situation. But of course, strict health protocols and travel requirements are imposed to ensure safety. When I decided to go to Boracay for my birthday this year, I picked 2GO Travel to take me there. You’re probably wondering why when I can simply hop on a plane and go there in an instant. Well, one thing about me is that I cherish the journey as much as the destination. I don’t really like being in a hurry especially when I have so much time to spare. Traveling with 2GO to Boracay was definitely a great idea and the experience I had was simply amazing!

As with all my other travels, everything didn’t go smoothly though. 😄 The trip to Batangas Port was not easy. Yes. 2GO’s trips to Caticlan start from Batangas Port. This is not my first time traveling with 2GO. In fact, it’s my 3rd. The first two times were during my trip to Romblon in the Lenten Season 3 years ago so I knew what I had to do. I was coming from Manila but I was surprised to find out that it’s different now. A lot has changed since the pandemic. The usual JAM Liner bus from Buendia that takes passengers directly to Batangas Port is no longer available. This made me hop on a DLTB bus to Batangas Grand Terminal, rode a jeep to Batangas town proper, and another jeep to the port itself which was something I didn’t really take into account when I was planning my trip.

I was barely having a bad day having to deal with all the unexpected adjustments. But what got me upset are those people who have tried to rip me off. One jeepney driver offered to take me directly to the port from the Grand Terminal for P200 after he dropped off his other passengers. Another tricycle was charging me P150 for a ride that won’t even cover 2 kilometers! “Wow! That’s just fucked up!”, I thought. How can some people be so heartless amidst all the shit we’re in now? Instead of brooding over it, I let it slide. And although I was not allowed entry right away when I got to the port, I tried to be more understanding and patient.

My huge bed for the night.

I might have had a rough start but all my worries melted away when I finally got to board the ship at 8:30 PM. My accommodation was upgraded to a suite and I couldn’t help but adore my room. It has a double-sized bed with clean sheets, a mattress, and 4 pillows! I also have my own toilet and bath with clean towels and shower essentials. The best part is that everything is easily accessible from where I was staying like the cafes, the front desk, the clinic, and the charging stations. The ship’s bar/view deck where I can get a nice look of the city while we sailed away was also just a few flights of stairs from my room.

Adobo, Caldereta, some steamed veggies and a creamy soup for dinner.

I roamed freely around the ship before I was invited to the cafe for a sumptuous dinner. I feasted over adobo and caldereta with steamed rice and a creamy seafood soup on the side. It was so satisfying that all I wanted after that was to go on a deep slumber. I knew that I would have a limited time to appreciate the ship the next day so I did some more sightseeing before I went back to my room. One thing I have observed is that the vessel looks clean. The floor is mopped and disinfected constantly. But the thing that amazed me the most was how friendly and accommodating the crews were to the passengers. They all seemed so easy to approach that some passengers could just engage in a conversation with them instantly.

Sarap ng cake. Moist and not too sweet.

I was already half asleep when I heard a knock on my door. It was several minutes past the hour of 10 on my watch and I couldn’t remember ordering for something. If it was to check if I was doing okay, I would totally appreciate it but I thought I needed more sleep. Lol. I still went to open the door out of courtesy though. What I failed to set myself for was getting dumbfounded by the biggest surprise of all. There, outside my room, were several of the ship’s crews, a cake, and them singing to me “Happy Birthday!” I suddenly remembered mentioning that I was going to Boracay for the said occasion when I was arranging my roundtrip tickets with Bea (2GO’s Corporate Communications Manager) but the sweetie gesture was totally unexpected.

The Horizon Cafe.

The crew didn’t stay for long since they had to attend to their stations. I, too, went to sleep but this time with a smile all over my face. I couldn’t recall the last time I had a birthday surprise which made me even more grateful to 2GO Travel and their team. The next day, I woke up a little early to witness the sunrise while aboard the ship. Witnessing the sunrise and sunset whenever I travel with 2GO has always been part of my routine. Too bad as that day, the sun failed to battle its way out of the thick clouds so I had to settle for the gloom and the cold breeze. We were scheduled to reach Caticlan at 8 AM so I thought I’d kill time with a slice of cake and a cup of coffee in the meantime.

One of the cafes on the ship.

We reached Caticlan at 7:30 AM but couldn’t disembark as the ship found it difficult to dock due to the unfavorable weather. It took another hour before we could finally go ashore. As soon as the passengers were given a go to disembark, the local healthcare officers went aboard to check each passenger and their requirements. It was well-organized and it went by in a breeze that I found myself on a boat to Boracay just 15 minutes later. This trip with 2GO may not be the ideal way to travel for most people but it certainly is worth a try. If you’re up for something out of the ordinary, traveling with 2GO should be on your list. I swear you’ll never regret the experience.

Corned beef, sunny eggs and brewed coffee for breakfast

—Frequent Questions People Asked Me About Traveling With 2GO

1. Is 2GO Travel Okay? Based on several of my experiences traveling with them, Yes. Their service is good. It’s not flawless nor perfect but they always meet my expectations.
2. Is it safe to travel with 2GO? Yes. I’m always at ease when I travel with them as apparently safety is their utmost priority.
3. Isn’t it scary to travel at sea? Yes. It is scary considering that I would be in the middle of the sea for long hours but it is something I also enjoy. I love long voyages. Gives me time to relax, grab a book, or do some writing.
4. Have there been any delays in your travel with 2GO? Yes. Our 11 PM boarding for our voyage to Batangas was delayed for 10 hours due to severe weather conditions. I think delays are normal especially if it involves factors that are out of our control. We were properly informed about it and were compensated with free meals throughout the journey.
5. Is 2GO more affordable than traveling by plane? Absolutely! Fares are affordable all year round and vary per accommodation. It can go as low as P300+/person for a 1-way Tourist Class.
6. Can I travel with my pet with 2GO? Yes! Although they’re not allowed to be taken inside the accommodations, they’re placed in pet-friendly areas where their humans can easily attend to them.
7. What are the advantages of traveling with 2GO? Fares are relatively cheap even when booked 24 hours before departure. It covers not only the accommodation but onboard meals as well.
8. Where else do you plan on traveling with 2GO? I plan to travel with them on my trip to Cebu in the next couple of months. If quarantine is no longer necessary, I will travel with them to Coron next month.

There you have it, lovelies! I hope this inspires you to try and travel with 2GO. Wishing for your experience, once you do so, to be as wonderful as mine. Share this to your friends and plan that trip now! Until next time. Ciao!