Happier Abroad Forum Community

I remember when traveling from Angeles City to Subic Bay was a nightmare. Between the two lane road filled with moon crater sized potholes, endless unfinished construction projects, detours, traffic accidents, and traffic; not to mention kids on bikes, livestock, dogs, cats, and an endless count of chickens on the road, the trip usually took at least 2 ½ to 3 hours!

Now, thanks to the opening of the Subic-Clark expressway last year (2009) those days are gone and the trip takes only about 20 minutes. A far cry from the old days when one would be tired out upon arrival in Subic just from the stressful and tiring trip.

Subic itself and the entire area around it is like a giant candy store. With endless places to go, places to eat, boating, diving, and even girl chasing. Actually, if the girls are running it’s because they are chasing you. Nice for a change hay guys? Why waste all that energy that could better be used in the evening when they come to you, or just follow you around like a lost puppy-waiting to go home with you.

One of my favorite areas there is Blue Rock Resort. Its actually off base but still close by. It sits on the beach and has very nice accommodations with a full service restaurant, swimming pool, and even has a floating bar several yards out in the bay.

Johan’s dive shop is right next door and does dive tours for those who want to see Subic bay from the bottom up. There are many world war II ship and aircraft wrecks waiting to be explored in this huge bay.

Sailing and all types of boating is extremely popular in Subic and is the host for the yearly Hong Kong-Subic sailing regatta.
Broadwater Marine is close by and is owned by a friend of mine, Rod Hegerty, one of the greatest guys you could ever want to meet. He carries all boating supplies from anchors to rope and all boat and engine repair on site. Stop in for a cold one when there. He always has a good sea story to tell. Or he can be contacted at: Rodney_hegerty@broadwatermarine.com

Just outside Subic base is Olongapo city. It’s a city with many stores and restaurants and fun places to see. Easy to get around by taking any yellow jeepney. They travel in a loop around town so its not easy to get lost.

Subic Bay has to be one of my favorite places in the country and a must see for anyone traveling to or vacationing here.
Subic also has a good supply of apartments and American style homes on base for anyone that might be thinking of moving to the Philippines.

Be sure to check out Subic before you decide to “drop anchor� somewhere else in the Philippines…

Which buses from AC/Dau go there? You catch them at Dau station or have to go somewhere else?

Correct, busses leave from the Dau station by Jumbo Genra Mall. Victory Liner makes the trip and most other bus lines too I think

Which sign on the bus do you use? I've never seen Olongapo buses at Dau station. I used to go to Subic via Manila but would prefer to go via Dau sometimes. Is the trip shorter from Manila now or only from AC? It's around 3 hrs from Manila.

Honestly I dont know what the head sign reads on the busses going to Olongapo. I go with someone and have not taken a bus there in maybe two years.

On the routing and travel time from Manila it would be about the same I think. Any bus going to Onongapo from Manila would have to come to the Angeles exit of NLEX to change to the Subic Expressway that begins at Angeles/Clark area.

The only way to make the trip from Manila to the Angeles area or hotels faster would be to take the Swagman Hotel-Fly D' Bus.
Privatly owned, it makes three trips per day in each direction and the cost is P600 one way. Travel time is exactly two (2) hours with a 15 minute rest stop.
Departure is from the Swagman Hotel in Manila located at:

411 A. Flores St
Ermita, Manila

Thats one block from the US Embassy...

As far as I know, you take a bus from Dau to San Fernando first. Then from there you transfer at a street corner to the Olongapo bus. That's how Dianne showed me. There is a Swagman bus from Angeles to Subic too, that costs 300 or 400p, and it takes you to the Swagman hotel or something.

Is this the bus you're referring to Gene? Does it really get there in 20 minutes now? Total?

Yes, thats the bus. But I dont know if the Swagman bus still makes the trip into Subic or not. But as I remember that Swagman Bus to Subic is or was through a connection at the Swagman Hotel in Angeles.
But yes, once on the expressway in Angeles the travel time to Subic is between 20 and 30 minutes.