Best place in Dumaguete to live?

I'm a soon to be arriving first timer in Dumaguete (but not The Philippines).

I would appreciate any thoughts on the best place in and around Dumaguete to live, and any areas to avoid at all costs.

The way I see it there are three options: downtown, along the coast, or up in the hills around Valencia.

I recognize the pros and cons of all three (convenience, cleaner air, close to beach, cooler temperatures, etc), and of course I intend to explore upon arrival, but it would be good to know any gems or bad places there.

Thanks in advance and look forward to meeting some of you when I'm there.....

 

I would strongly suggest RENTING for at least a year, maybe 6 months if you've lived in PH for awhile.. Then you can decide for yourself. Everybody likes different places for different reasons and has different paranoias; gangs, terrorists, chickens, noisy ill-trained dogs, mountain girls, etc... Our paranoia is "global warming" and "king tides," like in Hawaii, so, after two years renting in town, we're moving to 380 meter altitude... Our other paranoia is how bad traffic will be downtown in 2 years (or tomorrow), so we're moving to the boonies (with well trained dogs). Our other paranoia is which municipality or barangay is the most corrupt and likely to try to extort you, so of course, we're moving to the worst... See what i mean, so, really, you won't get any useful answers on this thread for your own use.....

And Dustin, be nice, he's asking a real question.. Which reminds me.. Don't expect a straight answer, 90% of information is conjecture, lies, or old info, just like the states. And if "out of stock" bothers you, move to cebu or manila. I remember when a burger joint was "out of stock" of hamburger buns... <grin>

But the area is a fun place to live, medium sized town, lots of nice people, nice weather (global warming is forcing most big storms up thru Luzon), enough decent restaurants to keep you well fed (argued to death), and the town is so small that whomever you meet will be related, work with, is cousins with, or went to Silliman university with someone you already know, or they just moved here too...

 

Oh and by the way, never blindly criticize or rant about any person or business in Dumaguete, for the same reason. We provided "constructive criticism" one time about a old established restaurant, and the person we were talking to was the owner's cousin...... oops...

 

Thank you Edward

I've already spent over three years in The Philippines so I don't think I'll have any problems "adjusting".

Guess I'll just explore and see what happens

Good day to you all.

 

Good luck.....

 

Because of lack of demand in Bacong while the Valencia customer base significantly increasing, the Bacong ladyboy population has transferred to Valencia. The good looking young ladies in Bacong are all taken. Valencia has many and they don’t carry ID’s so no worries. Police in Valencia are foreigner friendly and enjoy talking with drunk foreigners. So easy choice for newcomers or frustrated or lonely guys, move to Valencia, no comparison.

 

I moved 3 months ago from Calindagan to Junob (not far from the road Duaguete-Valencia) and i like the place; some fresh air, quiete and still close to downtown, Hypermart Lee plaza and Robinson Mall