How to get from Mindoro to Boracay. How to get to boracay

03.07.2021

Singapore and the Philippines (part 2) – Manila, Boracay, Bohol (Panglao)

In the previous part of the review I wrote, now more about the Philippines

Route: Manila 1 night + Boracay 5 nights + Bohol (Panglao) 3 nights

The long-awaited time has come to fly to the Philippines. The road is tiring, there are many flights and transfers ahead. The flight from Singapore to Manila was 3.5 hours, flying with the Australian airline Jetstar Airlines. When departing from Singapore and passport control In the Philippines, return air tickets must be shown. Entry to the Philippines is visa-free.

We spent only one night in Manila, but that was enough. The city is large and very dirty, the center is not much different from the outskirts, there are many homeless people and beggars. On the background local residents We, as tourists, stood out sharply; I often caught sidelong glances at myself. I wouldn't want to be there again.

How to get from Manila to Boracay?

You arrive in Manila on international terminal, you need to get to the domestic terminal by shuttle, which takes approximately 15 minutes. There is no airport on Boracay, the island is small, you can get to it in two ways:

via Caticlan (most flights fly this way), which is located on the large island of Panay, this is the most shortcut, the city is close to the pier, from where a boat transfer to Boracay takes 15 minutes. You can buy a boat ticket just before departure.
via Kalibo, which is a 2-hour bus ride to the Panay Island pier

We had SEAir tickets via Caticlan, but perhaps due to the rainy weather, we were informed at the last minute that we were flying via Kalibo. The airline kindly provided a transfer to the pier at its own expense. The plane was very small, designed for 15-17 passengers; during check-in, in addition to luggage, passengers were weighed to control weight; for two people, no more than 30 kg of luggage. Although the plane was old, it was reliable, the only thing that bothered me was its size, it was like a toy. The flight altitude is about 3 thousand m above sea level, when exposed to wind, slight shaking occurs.

From the pier we quickly swam to Boracay, where we took a taxi and went to the hotel, the driver took us to the place from where we had to walk to the hotel, because... There are only pedestrian roads there. Exhausted from travel, we finally got to the hotel Mandarin Borakay 4*. When checking in we asked good number, we were given a higher category than we booked Premier Deluxe Sea View. The hotel is very good, small and cozy, the location is very convenient on White beach, station 2, close to the D"Mall market, cafes, restaurants, the tourist center, the Talipapa bazaar with local souvenirs. I also liked the room, quite an acceptable level for the Philippines. Without unnecessary things pathos and delights, everything you need is available: internet, snacks, a set for making tea, coffee, a four-poster bed - very romantic!

Of course, there are luxury hotels in Boracay, but they are located far from White beach, because... this is a municipal beach, and luxury hotels are located in separate lagoons and have their own beaches.

In the morning we were annoyed by the weather forecasts; yesterday there was sun, but today and in the next week there was expected to be rain and a cool sea. Only during short breaks in dry weather did we leave the hotel to simply explore the island; there was no question of getting a tan. It's September, rainy season! But usually everything is much rosier, it’s just that a cyclone formed in that week. It's good that I was high speed internet, we watched almost the entire season of Jack Bauer in the room with beer! Usually during this period, nets 5-7 m high are placed on the beach, which protect coastal hotels and cafes from wind and rain.

Boracay does not have a variety of any attractions or cultural values. Perhaps the private museum of Glorio and Roberto Tirol, showcasing the heritage of China, which is closely interconnected with the island.

Tourists come here to enjoy beautiful nature, snow-white beaches and the purest emerald sea. In Boracay you can visit the Dead Forest in the southern part of Balabag Beach. The most high place on the island 100 m - Mount Laho. Bat caves, butterfly garden, waterfalls, shell museum on Ilig-Iligen beach. The weather allowed us to go only to the beach in the northern part of Boracay - Puka Shell Beach.

To get to Puka Shell beach, you need to go to the main road of the island through the D"Mall market, there are many local taxis - a motorcycle with a cab. It was quite windy on Puka Shell, there were practically no people, we managed to take a few photos and went again rain.

D"MALL, Boracay

There is absolutely no transport on the island except motorcycles with cabins (tricycles) and microbuses are very rarely seen.

Popular entertainment here is sports: kitesurfing, windsurfing, kayaking, Beach volleyball, snorkeling, and, of course, diving. Diving is very popular here; there are many dive centers on the island that regularly conduct dive safaris. interesting places, where you can see colorful tropical fish, dozens of species of corals, including rare blue corals.

Another interesting entertainment on the island there are sand castles, good season They even organize competitions for the best castle. In the evening, candles are lit and the castles are illuminated, very romantic.

Boracay is the main party island, night life It is popular here; along the White Beach walking path there are bars, restaurants, discos, cafes, and local bands perform concerts every evening. The atmosphere everywhere is very relaxed, conducive to relaxation. At our hotel, Mandarin Boracay, local musicians, very talented guys, performed every evening.

I also want to note restaurant Hotel Mandarin DON VITO with Italian, Asian and European cuisine, small and cozy, not very economical, but with delicious food.

There are many cafes on White beach that offer a buffet for a nominal fee of 250 pesos per person, drinks are paid separately, it costs a little less than a regular cafe a la carte, but the food, in my opinion, is not tasty.

A local popular dish of Lapu Lapu fish in sweet and sour sauce is very tasty. There is a wide variety of seafood, but I was surprised by a feature of Japanese restaurants - the lack of sushi and raw fish dishes, as we were told - it was simply not the season.

You can buy various souvenirs and pearls in Boracay, which made me happy because... I bring pearls of different colors from every trip. I bought a lilac thread here, the prices for purchases are very low.

A massage on the island of Boracay, as it turned out, is not so cheap, in a hotel salon it is about 1200 - 1500 pesos per hour, on White beach in a regular salon an hour cost 500 pesos, the level is quite average when compared with massage in Indonesia and Thailand. Still, I really liked it, it’s a useful and enjoyable procedure.

The weather forecast did not promise the long-awaited appearance of the sun in the coming days, and we decided to leave the island a day earlier, at tourist center We bought a domestic flight from Caticlan to Cebu with Cebu Pacific airlines, and from Cebu to Bohol we traveled by boat; we bought tickets right on the spot before departure. The pier is located near the airport, it is better to take 1st class seats, the price difference is ridiculous, but the seats are very comfortable and are located in the center of the boat in the cabin, less motion sickness and you can watch TV.

Bohol-Panglao

Bohol is enough big Island, with very interesting excursions, But nice beach is located nearby small island Panglao, which can be easily reached by taxi along the highway connecting the islands.

One of the most popular and inexpensive hotels to Panglao - BoholBeachClub 3* , with wonderful snow-white beach and a beautiful large area. Although the hotel belongs to the 3* category, there are buildings with rooms increased comfort 4*. We stayed in 3* rooms, quite simple, but large area on the first floor.

The hotel area is very beautiful and large; there were very few people during this period (September). The hotel has a restaurant with European cuisine, prices are lower compared to Boracay restaurants, and the dishes are delicious. There are several swimming pools scattered around the area.

The most important thing is that there was very good weather, sunny, warm and no rain. The purpose of our trip was to get acquainted with a unique tiny animal - the Philippine tarsier (tarsier), so we did not spend much time on tanning.

We booked a tour of the island of Bohol at the hotel, and the next morning the driver picked us up from the hotel and took us to the most interesting places on the island. There was no guide or other accompanying person with us, only the driver.

The first stop on our trip was administrative center Tagbilaran, where a monument was erected in honor of Sandugo is a ritual agreement concluded between the Spanish conquistador Miguel Legazpi and the leader of the Philippine island of Bohol, Sikatuna. Participants in the ritual drink wine to which blood has been added as a symbol signifying the blood brotherhood between the Spaniards and the Filipino people.

After that we went to the chocolate hills, along the way we stopped at big park with tarsiers, the driver warned that this is not the largest park, so we won’t stay long.

"Chocolate Hills"(Chocolate Hills) is one of the amazing attractions of Bohol Island. These are cone-shaped hills covered with grassy vegetation. Sun-bleached grass gives them such a delicious color, and the shape of the hills resembles truffles.

One of the hills has been converted into a resting place for tourists; there is a paved path to the top of the hill on which observation deck, which offers breathtaking views of the “chocolate hills”. For complete relaxation of tourists, there are cafes and benches surrounded by lush greenery.

Next stop was Butterfly Park(Batterfly Garden) - a garden surrounded by fragrant flowers, ferns and trees. The park is located in the open air; the flight of butterflies is limited by a thin net surrounding the entire park. The park has a wonderful collection of butterflies from all over the world. The park has a hammock under a thatched canopy, so those who like to relax can use it for relaxation. Before entering the park there is a small insect museum and a guide who will be happy to tell you about these living creatures and even demonstrate some of them. For example, butterflies in the process of mating, which do this within 24 hours.

Hanging Bamboo Bridge is a suspended bamboo bridge, about 35 meters long, connecting the banks of the Loboc River.

The cruise on the Loboc River is very popular, I highly recommend taking a boat and going rafting, the nature around is stunningly beautiful, and the reward at the end of the cruise will be a small waterfall.

And finally, the most interesting thing - we go to tarsier center(tarsiers). Tarsier(Philippine tarsier) is a unique creature and very ancient. The size of the tiny animal is very small; the first thing that attracts attention in their appearance is their disproportionately large eyes, adapted for a nocturnal lifestyle. The tarsier feeds mainly on insects or small lizards.

In the tarsier center you have a unique opportunity to feed the tarsiers by presenting a thick caterpillar on a branch. This is a funny sight: holding a tree branch with its hind paws, the tarsier takes its prey with its front paws and very quickly copes with its task. Tarsiers have facial muscles that allow them to change the expression of their cute little faces and still look very human.

Touching animals is strictly prohibited, please adhere to these rules, the species is in danger of extinction. In popular tourist places in Bohol you will definitely be offered to buy a plush tarsier.

Our excursion ends with a trip to the oldest church in the Philippines - the Baklayon Church, whose appearance and thick walls are more reminiscent of a fortress. There is a museum next to the church where you can see religious objects and priestly clothing used 200 years ago.

There are many different ways fly to Boracay. In most cases, you need to fly through the capital of the Philippines - Manila, but there are other ways. I will describe all of them below.

Firstly, in order to understand the prices for air tickets to Boracay for your dates, as well as look at possible flight options, I advise you to use the form below. This is an assistant in searching for Aviasales air tickets - just enter the destination you are interested in and the desired dates, and the system will check what flight options are available and what their prices are. I always use this system myself. By the way, Aviasales checks not only tickets directly from airlines, but also from various agencies. It often turns out that buying a ticket through a booking agency is cheaper than on the airline’s website.

From Russian cities (except the Far East)

It is convenient to fly to the capital of the Philippines, Manila, from Moscow and St. Petersburg Emirates airlines(via Dubai), Etihad (via Abu Dhabi) or KLM (via Amsterdam). Direct flight No. Also, one of the most affordable and convenient options is to fly with Aeroflot to Hong Kong, and from Hong Kong fly either to Manila, or (which is very convenient!) directly on a direct flight to Kalibo (the airport near Boracay). So, the most convenient and inexpensive flight will most likely be Moscow-Hong Kong (Aeroflot), then Hong Kong-Kalibo (Philippine airline cebupacificair.com). If you are not flying from Moscow or St. Petersburg, then another flight to Moscow is added.

Another option is to fly to Seoul, and from there airline Air Asia operates direct flights to Kalibo Airport.

From Vladivostok

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines fly from Vladivostok to Manila with a connection in Seoul. Or, as I wrote above, you can fly to Seoul, and from there take a direct flight to Kalibo with Airasia

From Ukraine

It is convenient to fly from Kyiv with a direct flight to Bangkok with Aerosvit, and from Bangkok to Manila with Asian airlines.

Below is a list of airlines that fly to the Philippines from other cities South-East Asia(from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.)

By the way, planes fly to Caticlan (the closest airport to Boracay) only until 16:00. So if you arrive in Manila in the afternoon and want to get to Boracay on the same day, you will need to fly to Kalibo.

They run from 5 am to 9 pm every 10 minutes, less frequently at night. The boat ride is only 10 minutes.

There are many tricycles (the local type of taxi) at the port in Boracay, they will take you to any hotel.

A little about prices.

Here I will give average prices:

Main flight from Russia to Manila -600$-900$

Manila - Caticlan – $100-$200, but you can also get cheap tickets

Manila - Kalibo -70-100$

All prices are for round trip flights.

Prices from the airport (one way):

Taxi from Kalibo airport - about $50

Minivan from Kalibo airport (like a minibus) – $5

Tricycle from the port to the center of Boracay 5$

If you want to get from Caticlan or Kalibo airport to your hotel in Boracay as quickly and conveniently as possible, I can arrange a transfer for you. You will be met at the airport at any time of the day and escorted to the hotel. To know detailed information and you can order a transfer.

And so we landed in the capital of the Philippines at 22:50 local time in terminal 1. Customs formalities went quickly. No fees were paid. We stamped our passports, got our luggage, and walked out of the airport onto the street. And then the bacchanalia began... At first we wandered around with our suitcases in search of an exchange office. Found. Changed $100. And it began... taxi, taxi, taxi needed?!

In Manila, at the airport, taxi drivers are a definite gang. We read about it and were ready for it. We looked at the map and found that it was just a short drive to our hotel. Official taxi drivers asked for 950 pesos!!! (multiply by 1.5 to calculate in rubles). We smiled, said: “Queer, sank yu,” and moved on. We crossed the road and began to look for some private owners there. But they also surrounded us with offers with astronomical prices. To be honest, we were tired and exhausted; we didn’t want to wander further with our suitcases in search of cheaper options. We negotiated for 500 pesos. Although all you had to do was walk along the parking lot, exit the airport area, and catch a white taxi along the road. This is what we recommend you do. The price tag will be at 12!!! times lower. Catch a white taxi, tell the taxi driver to turn on the taximeter and go! Although, Filipinos, seeing white people with suitcases, immediately turn on the armor and do not agree to carry it according to the meter (we realized this on the day of our departure). In general, do what is most convenient for you - take an official taxi, bargain with private owners, or catch a city taxi (white cars). Official airport taxi cars with unrealistic prices are yellow. Or, the best option is to book Go Hotels Manila Airport Road for an overnight stay. We stayed there on the day of departure and really regretted not booking it for the first night. A very passable hotel, no pretensions, simple, but clean and tidy. And this hotel has a free shuttle from Terminal 1. As we exited the baggage claim area, we saw an employee with a sign for this hotel. That is, the headache of finding a taxi will automatically disappear for you. We will tell you more about this hotel a little further.

In the meantime, let's continue. We loaded our luggage into a taxi and rushed to our hotel. The journey took about 10 minutes, and here we are at the reception. I would like to dwell on this point - many on the Internet write that it is very dangerous in Manila, that people there are evil and everything else. Yes, it may seem so to you when you bargain with taxi drivers. But this story happened to us. We got out of the taxi at the hotel, paid the driver, said goodbye, and went to the lobby for check-in. We stand there, filling out the documents. And our taxi driver comes up to us and gives us a backpack with a laptop, documents and other equipment forgotten in the car. Like this. There are good people in Manila. Not without them. For an overnight stay, we booked the 88 Courtyard Hotel. It is located very close to the airport. Booked through Agoda. The Superior room category with breakfast cost us 3,500 rubles. The hotel left positive emotions. Registration and check-in are quick. The room fully corresponds to the photo and description. Clean and quite spacious. Quiet air conditioning, helpful staff. Complete shower set: gel, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush and toothpaste. Clean towels. Disposable slippers. The room itself is quiet - no noise from the road disturbed our sleep. At the lobby you can ask to be woken up.

Although the journey to Boracay will be quite long, Boracay is actually one of the most accessible islands in the Philippines. Some other islands are much more difficult to get to. Boracay Island attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year. It's easy to find accommodation here that fits your budget. Quirky resort hotels Mostly located on the seafront, but there are also many boutique hotels, hostels and apartments that line the interior streets and roads of Boracay Island.

Often tourists from Russia get to Boracay through Manila. There are flights to the capital of the Philippines with transfers from different cities in Russia, but, unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Manila from any Russian city.

Now it’s time to talk about how you can get from Manila to Boracay on your own. There are two main options: through Caticlan or through Kalibo.

From Manila to Boracay via Caticlan

Book your domestic flight to Kalibo or Caticlan. Many international flights landing at Terminal 1 of Ninoy Airport in Manila. Once you land in Manila, you can spend some time in the city or head straight to a domestic flight to Kalibo or Caticlan.
To travel from Manila to Boracay, we recommend booking a ticket with Cebu Pacific Airlines or Philippines Airlines. Caticlan is a coastal city with a small airport. The pier here is the main point for those planning to go to Boracay Island. But since the airport in this coastal city is small and has only one short runway, then on this moment he just doesn't accept large planes. Additionally, the airport can only handle a few flights during the day. It is also important to take into account that the baggage allowance for small aircraft is significantly less than the baggage allowance for aircraft that fly from other countries to Manila. That is, due to the size of the plane, you will not be able to take large luggage with you. The exact baggage allowance can be found when booking your tickets.
After landing at Caticlan, you need to hop on a tricycle (three-wheeled motorcycle) and head to the pier. This trip will take approximately 5 minutes or less.
At the pier, you will need to buy a boat ticket for 25 pesos to get to Boracay Island. In addition, you will also need to pay an environmental fee of 75 pesos and a port tax of 100 pesos.
On Boracay Island, all you have to do is hop on a tricycle and ride to your hotel.

From Manila to Boracay via Kalibo

You can travel from Manila to Boracay via Kalibo. The algorithm of actions is similar, but you will need to travel a noticeably greater distance on the ground.

Book your flight from Manila to Kalibo International Airport. Kalibo is the capital of Antique Province and the most preferred gateway to Boracay, even though Kalibo Airport is located an hour and a half away from Caticlan. Note that you can fly to Kalibo not only from Manila, but also from other places in Southeast Asia. For example, Air Asia offers direct flights to Kalibo from several Asian cities. Kalibo Airport accepts large aircraft, so you won't have any problems with your luggage.
Upon landing at Kalibo Airport, you will immediately see counters inside and outside the building that offer transfers to Boracay. Typically, the package includes a bus ride to the pier in Caticlan and a boat ride to Boracay. All fees are included in the price. But it is still better to find out in advance what is included in the package.

Duration of the trip from international airport Kalibo to Caticlan Pier is 1.5 hours. The boat ride from the jetty to Boracay takes another 20 minutes. Once you land on Boracay Island, all you have to do is grab a tricycle and head to your hotel.

Companies inside and outside Kalibo Airport offer a variety of transfer packages.

You can buy:

Bus/minibus ticket to Caticlan Pier

Bus/minibus ticket + boat ticket

Bus/minibus ticket + boat ticket + transfer to hotel

Bus/minibus ticket + boat ticket + hotel transfer + all fees

We advise you to choose the last option and save yourself from unnecessary worries. You will most likely be able to save money if you only buy a bus ticket to the pier and then do everything yourself, but the savings will be small (around 30 pesos). It seems to us that it is still better to overpay a little, but save yourself from unnecessary hassle.

When you reach the Caticlan Jetty, you will need to board a boat to Boracay. The boat can accommodate about 20-30 people. Unfortunately, there is not enough free space in it. If you have huge bags with you, you will have to ask the boatman to place them on the roof of the boat. Luckily, the trip is short (15-20 minutes), so you won't have to worry about your luggage getting wet. If you have with you oversized luggage, then you will have to pay extra for the speed boat ride. A trip on such a boat is more expensive than on a regular one, but still its cost is quite adequate.
Once you reach the Boracay jetty, you will need to arrange transfer to your hotel or other place where you plan to stay. The roads on Boracay Island are narrow, so... public transport three-wheeled motorcycles (tricycles) are used here.

There are two types of tricycles. The first is electric. It operates like a bus and seats about 10 passengers. Since the cost of the trip is divided among all passengers, this type of tricycle is the cheapest. Each passenger pays about 20 pesos per trip.

The second type of three-wheeled motorcycle is motorized. Such three-wheeled motorcycles look older and, of course, have a bad impact on environment. However, they are considered special because they act like taxis, taking passengers to their desired location without stopping anywhere along the way. They are significantly more expensive than their "electric" counterparts. One trip can cost from 150 to 200 pesos.

The third type is a gas-powered tricycle. This is the most expensive form of transport in Boracay, but it is the most convenient.

The tricycle drivers who wait for tourists near the pier are employed by the organization, so they will not pester you and offer their services, as taxi drivers do near many airports and piers in Asia. At the pier in Boracay there is a specially appointed person (dispatcher) who “distributes” passengers to tricycle drivers in turn. This dispatcher almost always sends foreign tourists on a motorized tricycle without explaining anything or asking whether you want it or not. Therefore, if you want to ride a regular tricycle-bus, then be more persistent and tell the dispatcher that you want to ride just such a tricycle.

Please note that most hotels in Boracay are located in three adjacent areas of White Beach called Station 1, Station 2 and Station 3. To help your driver find your hotel faster, you can tell him which station it is located at.

Ferry Manila - Boracay

If you want to save money and are looking for the best cheap way get from Manila to Boracay, then the best option for you will be a ferry trip. Ferries operate to the city of Dumaguit on the northern coast of Panay Island. From here you can take a bus to Caticlan and then take a ferry to Boracay.
How else can you get from Manila to Boracay by ferry? You can take a bus from Manila to Batangas City, which is located 110 km from the capital of the Philippines. From Batangas at 9 pm the ferry leaves for Caticlan (there seems to be one more ferry per day, but we chose the night ferry so as not to waste daytime time contemplating open sea). The ferry has a shop, restaurant and karaoke bar. So you can pass the time if you don't want to sleep. But it’s still better to try to sleep, because the ferry arrives in Caticlan at 6 in the morning. After that, all you have to do is wait for the ferry to Boracay Island.

Boracay is a tiny tropical island in the central part of the Philippines. Its length is only 7 km and width 4 km. Despite the size of the island, it is considered one of the most beautiful islands peace. Main beach White Beach ( White beach) has been leading in international rankings for several years now best beaches peace.

Boracay in the Philippines is famous not only for its the most beautiful beaches, but also big amount hotels, restaurants, bars of various levels, as well as excellent conditions for active rest(kite surfing, snorkeling, diving).

How to get to Boracay

There is no airport in Boracay. The closest ones are on the neighboring island of Panay: Kalibo and Caticlan.

If you are arriving in Kalibo, then you need

1- get there to Caticlan port(bus - 200 pesos (250 with a boat), taxi - 1200 pesos for a car or tricycle - I don’t know the cost, they didn’t even find out))). About 1.5-2 hours on the road.

2- from Caticlan port by boat to Boracay. The journey will take no more than 10 minutes, and the cost depends on the time of day: during the day - 25 pesos, in the evening - 30 pesos, at night - 100 pesos.

3- At the pier you will already be met by tricycle drivers who will be happy to take you to the hotel. The price depends on the distance (boats arrive at Station 3) of the hotel and ranges from 100 to 200 pesos.

The easiest way to get to Boracay is from Caticlan Airport, but tickets from Manila are also more expensive. From Caticlan Airport you will only need to get to the port and then take a boat to Boracay. Just 30 minutes (or maybe less) and you are on the island.

You will also need to pay an island fee of 75 pesos and an environmental fee of 100 pesos.

We arrived just at Kalibo airport. We used Cebu Pacific airline, which for 500 pesos per person solved our problem of getting to Boracay right up to the hotel. We thought that it would be more convenient for us than to look for how to get there in the dark (we arrived around 6 pm). And the savings are only $2.

By the way, when leaving the island you will need to pay the fees again. First time at the port in Boracay - 100 pesos. Then at the airport: domestic flights- 200 pesos, international - 700 pesos.

Where to live in Boracay

If you have booked your hotel in advance, then you have nothing to worry about. The tricycle will take you to the hotel and you can unpack your suitcases).

Having read on one of the forums that the guys were recommending a good hotel at the 3rd station, Solido’s Place Resort 3*, I decided that they would be waiting for us there. Having reached the hotel around 9 pm, it turned out that the owners were not in the hotel, although there were free rooms. We were a little upset, but did not lose heart. The search did not take long. A local lively Filipino invited us to look at his home. He said that the room has everything you need and it costs 1,500 pesos. The room really had everything we needed: a bed (even 2), a refrigerator, workplace, balcony and private bathroom. We use the air conditioner extremely rarely; mostly a fan is enough for us. Having reported this, the price of the room immediately became 1000 pesos. I'm wondering if Filipinos spend so much on electricity that giving up air conditioning reduces the cost by $10?! But the main thing here is that we were completely satisfied with the price and we lived almost on the 1st line (2 minutes walk to the sea). Oh, I completely forgot) The hotel is called Moreno’s Lodging. The rooms are very modest, but there is a minimum set of necessary things.