After a week here the one thing for sure is that Tacloban is the only real civilized city here. OK, maybe not a completly fair statement, but if you want McDonald's...

Most travelers will arrive in Leyte in Tacloban. My advice is if you are not familiar with provincial traveling, have your company meet you there. Tacloban's downtown is small enough to learn fast and the people there are very helpful. They are used to tourists and most your questions will be answered.

I flew in here and was met by my Mary. The airport was tiny and my flight was only aircraft there at the time, so meeting up was very easy. They had taken the bus/van for P120. I ended up getting a private van for P1,500, a total ripoff, but first day on the island not so bad mistake. Of course if I was alone, the P1,500 would have been a bargain as far as not getting lost. I'll be going back into Tacloban in the next couple days and hope to add some more info. Since I'm with my gf, hard to scope any night time activity.

Bud

Spent a solo night here and found the ktv bars are all you have. 4 average and a few small scattered around town. Ask trike to take you.

Manhattan Hotel is decent. It is a 20 minute jeep ride from the airport. McDonald's just down the street.

Bud

so how was the talent? rates? pics? details in general?

Talent was below average at best. P3,000 barfine plus for the girl. I didn't take any pics. KTV bars in the province work much different than bars in AC or Manila. Most don't even offer barfine. The deal is you pay X amount for a girl in a private room. These can vary from an aircon living room setting to a nasty little cubicle. Rates are from P700 to thousands, depending on the place and bar. You get like 4 drinks each for this price and no service is implied. I have heard of many scams happening to us, and I have so far avoided the ordeal first hand. I do personally know several KTV bar owners so my info is accurate. Also talked to several girls about service and all said was "up to you".

Bud

As Bud says this is the only place on Leyte to get Micky Dees probably .... the one I saw was diagonal from a Jollibees on the seafront. Baybay might have Mickey Dees 2...but since I dont imbide in their foods period... cant say for sure..but u cant miss it in Tacloban if you just cant live without one of their fine meals.......

ROyal seafood resturant and Shakeys pizza were 2 places I tried. Royal reminded me of a small Fortune Seafood of AC fame.

Shakeys is a place remember from WAYYYYYYYYYYYY Back in the 70's here in the states....think they have all gone to asia where the market must be more fertile.
Several other seafood places looked tempting... but we stuck with Royal.

Got my girls teeth cleaned at.....Dr. Philfa Dela Cruz office on Zamora st. (053) 321-7881.... place was clean and even though she did not have appointment they saw her within 20 minutes of getting there. X-ray and cleaning was 600p. I would have used it myself the place looked that clean and the staff seemed very good.

Several hotels that I saw but did not investigate... all in Tacloban...
Budget Hotel... which was a new looking hotel...which had "basic rooms" on the sign out front... this was along the waterfront but not in the main downtown area.

Asia Stars Hotel... went in the lobby and it looked clean though down town in Tacloban like the Manhatten, which means it might be noisy in the day... think Tacloban quiets down after 7pm.... Sunday there was real quiet even saw lots of stored closed and this was not on a religious holiday just an average Sunday.... .Hotel is.. Located on Zamora Street. Tel (053)325-5888-or 325-5322- or321-4952. 60 rooms all aircon brouchure did not list prices.

MacArthur Park Resort: in Palo...but you might as well say Tacloban. Stayed here a week.... ok rooms,, price around 40 us. The main complaint was not really worth mentioning..checked in with no reservation... big conference going all week...but most guest were not staying in hotel.
Resturant ok....my girl,,2 cousins and one cousins child ate for around 950p.....several dishes and drinks. Comp. breakfast. Air con.. generator.... cable tv. no room service after 1am think... Thurs, Fri, Sat nights..have live band playing medly of songs that I would rather forget.... dancing goes on till 1am,,, band was lively and several bakalas were there every nite,,,probably every time they have the weekly event even.... but no woman there went without being asked to dance...thes boys,,girls...uh dancers made John Travolta blush they would burn up the floor.
Tour from here to Sohoton cave and other venues can be arranged.
Overall the place is a great relaxing quiet...... place. Nice beach 2 pools available.

Did not do any barhopping..saw one place looked like it might be a bikini bar... name was bikini-kitten bar...had sign out front touting their ST. VALENTINES DAY... festival.. but this was April...definately looked filipino only and several other karoke type bars near by...

Baybay: Hotel Paloma on Mabini street.... did not check out but this looks very new. Baybay is worth a look but my few hours here with my girl was strictly spent visiting her sis, and dodging the rain...the last van out for there to Tacloban is at 5pm.FYI.....

I visited this island for the purpose of visiting Red Beach (MacArthur Landing) and other WWII sites. I was with a young woman that i brought with me so I didn't need to scroung around Tacloban looking for one. If you want to visit Leyte (and i do think it's worth the effort) byo honey. There are no taxies in this city so you'll need to arrange a driver to get you around to the places you want to visit. I stayed at the Hotel Alejandro, in Tacloban (http://alejandro.tacloban.biz/rooms.html)and paid $37 per nite for the Executive room.

The water pressure was low but the water did get hot. In the morning I found a big dead cockroach on the floor by the bed (they grow em big in the PI) I would give this hotel a 2 star rating.

Spent Christmas holidays in Leyte with a GF, but she couldn't make it to Tacloban city when I arrived, so after checking in at Leyte Park (1400p), right on the ocean--nice place, but I caught the housekeepers creeping alongside the sliding glass doors "cleaning" but who knows if they were just trying the doors--and being that it was Xmas season there was a strange--non-mongerish vibe going on. Good thing I had locking luggage.

Took a walk to the downtown area (3 blocks away) and shopped, etc, and then at dark asked a trike driver to take me where the "girls are." First place I went to (can't remember the name, but it was a couple minutes away from the main drag) was a small place with a concrete courtyard with dancers taking their turns on a solo stage. Place had private rooms, and some pretty gals, but it had Manila prices--3K-4K. I bought a bunch of beers, a beer for one of the mamasans and a drink for a cutie, but I pretty much lost interest. The girls I interviewed seemed kinda prudish--objecting to licking my ass!-- and after walking around (walked a looooong time) and checking out another, smaller, place, decided to just go back to the hotel.

In conclusion, I think there's a seedier underside that is yet untapped, and I hope to figure it out, and perhaps there more there. Interestingly enough, later I talked with some locals that were surprised to even know that THESE places were around. . . .

Went to Ormoc, and it seemed even more of a dead place. The KTV place we went got raided by cops and they had every guy stand up and lift their shirts to check for firearms--that actually made me feel safer!

So unless you're on the Jollibee customer-satisfaction Secret Committee, it's better to bring your honeyko as opposed checking out a new scene.

The few cute girls that are from Leyte are in Angeles City.

Thanks for this info. Tacloban always looked like an interesting place to visit for the WW2 history and beaches. I am surprised it did not have a better monger scene since it has several major universities that draw students from all over the country.

I am friendly with a couple web cam hotties in nearby Leyte city, but they are always no-show risks, so PLAN B is not looking good from this report.