The most comfortable way of getting around is by rent-a-car. The term "rent-a-car" is incorrect, for rent-a-cars usually come with a driver. Only few rent-a-car companies offer "self-drive," namely Dollar, Ecars, Budget and RC Rent A Car.
Cebu's taxis are filthy and rickety heaps of junks that rattle and groan their way across the city; if you are used to getting around in a clean car that still has all essential parts attached, you should opt for a rent-a-car. Since they come with a driver, these would be equivalent to limos, I suppose, but almost all of the cars in Cebu are small, though you can opt to hire a more expensive van. The better drivers will not just drive you around, but also assist you by carrying your shopping, etc.
While Manila has mid-size sedans serving as rent-a-cars, such as Camrys, in Cebu most rent-a-cars are old-model Corollas or Sentras, though a few late-model Altis models have started to appear. The use of a rent-a-car can be charged according to distance or time. Rent-a-cars are operated by owners (or drivers who pay the owner a fixed daily fee) and are attached to a rent-a-car company, rather than owned by the company outright. In most cases you can try negotiating for a discount.
Except for Dollar, Budget, and Guani, the car owners pay the rent-a-car a monthly fee, in exchange for which the company srefers customers to the drivers and assists with paperwork. These companies - such as Flamingo or Friends - usually garner customers via two canvassers who accost passengers in the arrivals lobby of the airport with offers of a "taxi."
You could call a rent-a-car company, but you may luck out and be stuck with an old-model vehicle driven by a non-professional driver. Here is a the name and number of a driver who comes highly recommended. His car is a white Altis, and he's been driving the streets of Cebu for longer than I've been alive.
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MR TINO PEPITO
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| VEHICLE |
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2003 TOYOTA COROLLA ALTIS |
| CELLPHONE |
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+63-918-340-1493 |
| REMARK |
|
30 years experience. Doesn't yak. |
Here are some of the rent-a-car companies. Guani have some old-model German luxury cars.
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RENT-A-CAR COMPANIES
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| DOLLAR |
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+63-32-254-7425 |
| FRIENDS |
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+63-32-340-5729 |
| BUDGET |
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+63-32-233-9409 |
| ECARS |
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+63-32-254-5004 |
| RC RENT A CAR |
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+63-32-262-3980 |
| GUANI |
|
+63-32-231-1751 |
And here's a website for Cebu Trip brought to my attention recently. I don't know anything about this business, but it's a big pogi point for them to actually have a website.
