MikeLigalig.com

I've been in touch with someone on a mailing list who's interested in renting me a beach house on Duero for US$20 a day (US$600 a month).  He's an American who is currently building a larger house and therefore now has a house surplus to his needs.

Does anyone have impressions of this area that they could share with me?  I'd like to know more about the area.  I'm wondering how rural it is (I know it's not in the big city) and what services are available - what would I need to go to the big city for and what could I get locally?

Is the price reasonable for a monthly rental or a bit high?  I'm wondering if I should negotiate to get a lower price or not.  My gut feeling is that it's cheap for one night, but a bit expensive as a monthly rate.  It's disappointing to me overall that it's been quite difficult to find any concrete evidence of rental prices.  The people who say houses should cost $100-200 a month are generally in the city, probably without access to the beach.  All the houses I've seen available are on the beach and $600.   So I'd love to see more guidance here.  I wouldn't mind paying less for a property that had a sweeping ocean view but wasn't on the water, if it could hold the cost down.  On the other hand, I know I'd just love to be on the water.  So I guess I want to know, does that $600-odd price have room in it for negotiation and if so about how much?

Of course maybe I shouldn't be so cheap.  The same trip to Florida, at rock-bottom prices, would be $3,000 a month or more.  I can't afford that, but it should give me some perspective.

One part of me says I should spend money and have more fun; the other part says I could spend more time in the Philippines and delay my return to miserable Pittsburgh, if I was able to pay less.

The place is a small compound with a one bedroom house, a separate one bedroom on the water and a Nipa hut.  I am only one person, but I'd be open to the potential of there being a Filipina who might charm me into having her come visit :-).

If other people are renting places, I'd like to hear from them too.  I expect the timeframe to be a month or two around January-February, possibly expanding to 4-6 months or even longer if I like the place.  My email is [email protected] if anyone wants to send pictures.

Thanks for any thoughts!

D



Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=5545.0