Barrio Barretto Beach

This is the closest and easiest side trip from Angeles (or Manila) that has something special to offer. Olongapo is where the Subic base is (base now has deluxe hotels, casinos and upscale bars) and is a pass through to the Barrio Barretto/Subic City area that contains the beaches and night life for us travelers. The whole trip from Angeles can be made under two hours and I paid Percy 1700 pesos for the transportation (2400 pesos from Manila airport). There is also a daily express hotel pick/up bus for 250 pesos. Ask your hotel about the " Subic Express bus" and if it stops at your hotel in Angeles -- this bus will drop you off in front of your hotel choice in Barrio Barretto or reverse routing back to Angeles!

There is also Eagle Ferry cruises, Inc. which now runs a shuttle between Manila and Subic twice a day. The entire trip takes just 2 hours 20 minutes and costs P130 for the air con deck or P110 for the sea deck. Subic to Manila is 7.00am and 1.00pm and return is 10.00 am and 3.30pm In Subic it leaves from Eagle Fleet Landing (in front of SBMA Bldg. 229) and from Manila PTA Bay Cruise Terminal, beside CCP.

The Barrio Barreto area is a small beach city area about 10 minutes from Olongapo and is where I suggest you stay. Not only are there a dozen of hotels to choose from (cheap bungalows to the super deluxe White Rock Hotel) but there is even some interesting inexpensive night life. I stayed at a new hotel called "Zanzibar" which was in the middle of things -- the best beach in front (called "Long Beach") and a ten minute walk to Barrios Barretto night life and a short trike ride to the Subic City dance clubs (Subic City is not Subic Base and really is just an extension of Barrio Barretto).