Indonesia overshadows the Philippines as an island destination in south east Asia, but the small, easy-to-travel-in country has more than enough as many gorgeous islands and it's not as crowded as its overpopulated neighbor to the south.
What to do
The Philippines has thousands of tiny islands, each one with tiny, picturesque white-sand beaches. Take a day trip out to Boracay Island and see Puka Beach one of the world's most beautiful tropical beaches, or take a ferry from Manila to Puerto Galera and spend your days earning your SCUBA diving license and exploring the ocean in water so warm you'll be able to stay in all day.
To get a good first hand look at Filipino culture, spend your time in Manila, the largest city in the Philippines with 10 million people in the metro area and the country's capital. In Manila you'll have the opportunity not only to see life in the Philippines, but also the unique ways that Filipino culture has blended with the immigrants that have come from around the world.
Getting there
Flights from North America or Europe to the Philippines usually stop in Hong Kong or Singapore. There are several airports for getting around within the country, which is mostly done by plane rather than boat when traveling long distances.
Where to stay
The Phillipines hosts thousands of travelers each year and while its numbers aren't as impressive as Indonesia's, there are more than enough
hotels to accommodate the travelers it gets.
Hostels are even more ubiquitous-one can be found in almost every major city around the country and many rural locations. You may consider our friends at the
Virgin Beach Resort Cebu.
