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Overview
So you’ve done Thailand to death and already been to Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore. Think a little more on the South East and you’ll find an archipelago of beautiful islands, with tropical warm climate, crystal clear turquoise water and beaches dotted with coconut trees!
It’s a Beauty
Sure, it takes an effort to get here but its pristine and serene beaches, and extremely picturesque lagoons that you can swim into, are sure to make it a memorable visit to the Philippines.
Nightlife
It’s not Vegas or Macau, but nightlife is vibrant and there are several clubs in Manila and Boracay. I remember going to The Summer Place on the White Beach, Boracay and having a terrific time. The bars are inviting and liquor is extremely cheap.
Conservation Efforts
It has made serious efforts towards conservation of nature and you notice a balance between the locals and their natural surroundings. And surprisingly it’s visible much more than in its neighboring countries.
Ocean, Beach and Me
You can find beaches that are completely deserted! So if you’re looking for a destination where you can get some ‘Cast Away’ themed photographs, this would be the place.
Scuba Diving
It has some great coral islands and diving and snorkeling can be spectacular. Fancy swimming with whale sharks or turtles?
No Language Barrier
Filipino people are extremely comfortable speaking in English, be it those serving you at restaurants or young boys sailing you around in the local bamboo boats.
Take your Pick
There are several options in islands to choose from depending on your interests and preferences. If scuba diving is what tops your bucket list then you’d be keen on visiting Palawan or El Nido, while a traveller more interested in nightlife would stick around Boracay.
Swimming in Waterfalls
You can find some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Philippines. Imagine doing a bit of a trek and reaching a waterfall with stunning turquoise colors and surrounded by forests!
What to Expect
Currency Used – Philippino Peso
Best time to go –
Climate – Philippines has a typical hot and humid tropical weather with its wettest months being June, July and August and witnessing a drier period from November to April. The best time to visit would be during the dry months, especially January and February which are relatively cooler. If you’re on a budget then keep a track of hotel and flight rates during the shoulder months such as November and March.
Reasons that can make you stick with good ol’ Thailand
- There aren’t too many options in five star hotels or resorts to choose from. Although the handful of options that you do have are excellent.
- You have to literally fight with your phone to catch some Wi-Fi signals. So definitely don’t travel here expecting to catch on with your work heavily at the same time.
- The food is not really as delectable as in Vietnam or Thailand. But you do have all cuisines easily available here which is still very good value for money.
- It takes 2-3 connecting flights to reach any of its islands from India. It would work best if you can combine countries to visit on your list if the connection becomes too long.
Why I picked Boracay
I had combined my travel to Philippines with a visit to Bangkok for work. After Thailand I had 4 days to spare for some leisure. This created an opportunity for me to check out connections to Manila, the capital of Philippines. It was the first week of December so weather wise it was ideal too. A direct flight was 3 hours, followed by another 1 hour direct flight to Boracay.
Philippines had been on my list since a while and though I knew I wouldn’t be able to do more than one island in 5 days I decided to go for it. I had read about how Boracay had been closed to tourists for 6 months following concerns over damage to its beaches over all these years in early 2018. This was my chance to see the pristine White Beach of the island after it had opened its shores again.
Area and Hotel Recommendation
Since I had picked Boracay for the prime reason of exploring its nightlife, I decided to stay the first night right on the White Beach (Astoria Current, Station 1) where there is maximum concentration of clubs, bars and restaurants. On the entire stretch of the White Beach, Station 2 is most popular and also has an open air shopping area with some boutiques and restaurants called the D’Mall. We stayed the last two nights at the Shangri La resort on the north side of the island, which was slightly away from the main area.
The Shangri La resort had 2 private beaches and were truly spectacular. We took a Sea View room that opened its balcony to the most picturesque view. The service was impeccable and overall we had a superb experience at the property. It also offers a pick and drop off service to the Boracay airports on their private high speed jets.
Highlights of My Itinerary
- Bar hopping on the White Beach
- Snorkeling and Sunset Tour on a private boat
- Private beaches at the Shangri La, Boracay
- Perfect weather and constant sunshine
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