cebu or kota kinabalu?
 

Which is a better choice for a relaxing and safe vacation from Hong Kong?

I love Kota Kinabalu. Its a relatively short non stop flight from HK. I've stayed at teh Tanjung Aru hotel several times, it has easy access to the nearby National Park where there is excellent diving and beaches.

Cebu is very safe and people are very warm. Weather will be nice in November as it is after monsoon season already. Shangrila Mactan just finished some major renovations. Food there is excellent. Other place to consider is Plantation Bay and Pulchra Resort.

We are thinking of going to either in early October. Is there any difference/preference due to weather between the two places?

Monsoon season in the Philippines usually done by the time September comes in. October should be fine. Cebu is generally warmer than Manila. October weather in Cebu will be quite pleasant and not uncomfortably warm.

hello muffet, cebu is a nice place to visit compared to manila less traffic and less pollution. and from there you can fly to boracay or bohol for some great beaches, and most people speak english. if you want a hotel near city center, i think the best bet is marriots, walking distance from ayala mall. weather is good in cebu its the rainy season but not too much rain.

Missmuffet,
KK is very safe. The downtown area is not worth the trip.
Tanjung Aru is most likely the best resort in the area and definitely is relaxing. Very open air, casual and high on service.
If you feel like a little more action you could go for a horse back ride.
Take in the orangutan sanctuary on the property and the nocturnal animal feeding time (bring yourself a quiet beverage while you sit in the dark silently).

Regards,
Craig

The Tanjung Aru does not have a Nature Sanctuary featuring Orangutan etc- this is the Rasa Ria it's sister hotel which is in a very secluded place about 40 minutes away

KK has very heavy rains from June through end November, as it is monsoon season. I would not go there before Christmas, and it generally is at its best around Chinese New Year.

Cebu is better weather esp the later you go in October, but I believe it is still the monsoon season in October. I have to express a few reservations about its safety relative to other places in SE Asia. I love the Philippines, but it is one of the only places in the world where I would hesitate to travel at this time; they just cannot get their security act together. If you read my postings on this thread, you will see that I generally encourage travel to SE Asia and disregard the State Dep't warnings, however, I feel differently about the Philippines. If you live in Hong Kong, ask friends and colleagues their opinion on travel to southern islands.

If you stick to beaches in the Cebu City area you should be OK, but I would not venture to outlying deserted islands or go further south, e.g. any closer to Mindanao. Beaches near Cebu City area are OK, I would not say they are outstanding, as the area is very developed and Cebu City is a very large city. The Marriott is nice but is NOT on a beach, it is a city hotel. The Shangria-La on Mactan Island is even nicer, IMO, and is on a beach. There are dozens of other hotels along the coast north and south of Cebu City and on the other side of the island as well. In my experience, roads are not in the greatest shape, so I would not venture more than 2-3 hours by car/driver from Cebu City as the drive is tiring, even as a passenger.

Personally I would go to Borocay for better beaches and as it is a it north and east of the most dodgy areas of Philippines (i.e. southern islands) is a bit more secure. (Don't understand gildore's comment about flying to Borocay from Cebu, I don[t see any point in leaving one island to go to another. If you want to go to Borocay from Hong Kong fly via Manila.) I would also look at the Amanpulo on its own island about an hour from Manila.

Walter,
Right-o.
Brain lock.

Stayed in Tanjung Aru & Rasa Ria -- Rasa Ria was better IMO. Mostly due to the tranquility and beach.

-Craig

Would agree on the tanquility issue, but for diving Tanjung Aru can't be beat. Further, there isn't a Horizon Club at the Rasa Ria - But for a Nature Reserve away from it all near(ish) to KK it's the Rasa Ria