I want to visit Cebu Island in the Philippines. What is the cheapest way to get there from the UK in December? I'm not in a hurry and will be diving and touring out there for several weeks, but I'd like to keep my travel costs down. Trevor Jackson, Peterborough

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: Try booking a fare from the UK to Cebu through a web based company or high street travel agent, and chances are you'll be quoted upwards of £750 return. The flights will most likely be with Qatar Airways via Doha, Malaysia Airways via Kuala Lumpur, or Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong.

However, you'll be better off booking the cheapest flights you can find to either Hong Kong or Manila, and then book a return from there to Cebu with a local low cost carrier.

So for example, Kayak.co.uk and ebookers.com have fares from Heathrow to Hong Kong from £396 ­ with Finnair via Helsinki. Then from Hong Kong you can get deals on Cebu Pacific to Cebu from about £116 return.

Alternatively, Kayak.co.uk and ebookers.com have fares to Manila in December from about £485, with Korean Air Lines via Seoul. From Manila, Cebu Pacific has return fares to Cebu from just £29.

Cebu Pacific has the most extensive domestic network, and good regular services, but you could also look at Air Philippines and Asian Spirit for other cheap fares in and around the Philippines.

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