i always think thailand is a nice place to go... the beaches are fun for your son too... but just a nice hotel in bangkok on the river that has a nice pool would be perfect...

singapore is fun too but more expensive..

english is spoken in both... food is good in both, with plenty of western food for the boy.

If you're thinking of a stopover for 1 week before heading to Cebu, the most convenient (but somewhat expensive) would be Japan. Going to some other place, such as Bangkok or Singapore would really be a little out of the way. Japan is convenient because you'd be "on your way" to Cebu (there are direct flights from Tokyo to Cebu).

I hope you have a great time wherever you decide to go!

For less jet lag HNL www.alternative-hawaii.com has worked cheaply and well for me in the past. Japan though more expensive would also be good to/from. Might see where I
could connect most cheaply around my airline carrier.
booking.com good lodging site.

It would depend on the age of your son also. Does he like to try new things?

Thanks for your suggestions! I haven't been to Japan. Hawaii is also a very nice option. It is going to depend on where I can get decent prices. I will check out the web site and do more research. We figure we want to make plane reservations around April ----fares seem very high right now.

My son is a good sport and pretty open to new things -- but this is first time traveling out of the US/Canada -- so I know this will be quite the experience for him. The nicest trips we have had have a nice combination of hiking, places where we we see animals/wildlife.....and sports is always a good thing. He would also enjoy a musical performance. Thoughts?

Thanks again

Why not travel there, go to Palawan or Bohol? seems like a lot to do in Palawan, at least you don't have to deal with more longer flights from Cebu. Japan very expensive. Taiwan is also a good choice, closer to Cebu. With Dragon Air, you can go to HongKong.

I'd pick the place to stopover based on your airline. If you fly Korean, then stopover in Korea, if a Taiwan-based carrier then stop in Taiwan; if your stopover is Hong Kong, then Hong Kong, etc. But I'd also look at Bohol, Boracay, or Palawan as well. No reason not to visit other places in the Philippines. That can be a very nice trip.

It would be baseball season in Japan.

There is a grand sumo tournament in Nagoya in July. It could be done as a day trip from Tokyo (about 2 hours each way).

Another option would be to stop there enroute to Kyoto (shinkansen takes 37 minutes between Nagoya and Kyoto).

Third option is to stop for a couple or several days in Nagoya for sumo and baseball and maybe visit a castle or two (Inuyama, Gifu, or Nagoya, in order of preference.) From Nagoya you can visit the Kiso Valley and walk the Nakasendo:
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-408.pdf

Thank you! We just bought our tickets the other day. We will stay in the philippines. Im looking a t bohol and palawan now.

Hello, I am from Cebu! Bohol is a great Island trip from Cebu. I suggest you add some Island Hopping trip while in Cebu (as you can tour Cebu in 2 days the most for the city and island itself). Island Hopping to Caubian, Hilutungan and Pandanon (near in Bohol) is really amazing! Just a note on the month you'll be visiting, June to September is rainy season though right now we are enjoying the best of summer weather here. Take extra time to check on weather reports at least a day before you go traveling since Bohol will be through ferry (plane is expensive). Palawan is a great hideaway for nature discoveries. Enjoy the vast variety of food, culture and more If you need tourists to Cebu, you can always ask and get a copy of a travel guide upon arriving at the airport. Enjoy Cebu and welcome to my hometown!