When I travel to Odiongan, Romblon the 2Go boat (see below) is my preferred method of travel (the photo above shows the Montenegro shipping line boat, not quite as nice and comfortable as 2Go but more likely to be on time). The 2Go boat features beds to sleep and store your things, a restaurant, a sitting deck, and even videoke! The trip from Batangas to Odiongan takes 7.5hrs, but I usually find myself waiting at the pier for the boat to leave for several additional hours because of delays, thus embarking to Tablas Island is a full day travel affair.

But perhaps this travel investment is a qualifier for the reward of arrival: Romblon is a small, island province, rated the most peaceful in the Philippines and in my opinion the most beautiful because so much is left still undeveloped and pristine! We have waterfalls, caves, coral reefs, large rice field valleys, mountain climbing and biking, a huge public market, fish ponds, mangrove forests, scuba diving, snorkeling, sea turtles and so much more!
As of last year it is also possible to take a flight to Tablas Island from Manila. If you are short on time or prefer a one hour trip to a 7 hour one the extra expense will save you a lot of hassle, but for those of you elbowing through the nonlinear crowd waiting to board or disembark from 2Go realize that this journey is truly part of the reward, because you now understand what middle class locals must do anytime they wish to leave the island. Poorer locals may never even leave the island at all by boat or plane.

And somewhere on your boat trip is at least one child who has never ridden on such a large boat before in their life and this ride is actually the greatest source of adventure.