Phil. Dec-Jan....cheaper than?

Six of one and half a dozen of the other.

My pick is Palawan

To fly BKK to MNLA go to Nancy tours in BKK and buy Cebu Pacific ticket....it's the cheapest. look up Nancy Tours on Cebu Pacific site under Thailand agents.

Hotels are more expensive in Philippines as a rule, food is nowhere near Thai cuisine for taste, variety and price. In Th I eat street food, in the Phills I look 5 times before doing so.
English is widely understood in the PH. If you go to Cebu area (Viscayas) there are damned nice diving spots.

Google "dive Philippines" or something for places like Moalboal for diving details.

Manila to Cebu ...take the Super ferry for an overnight trip, it's a nice way to relax, enjoy the fresh air and get used to Ph people.

Overall, I can get by in TH much cheaper, i.e. it's a better value. But, yes, visiting the PH is much worth it and a few pesos more is well worth the visit.
WARNING .... the everpresent kareoke singing may drive you homicidal in the PH.

Have fun ...........

OP where are you from? flights within the Philippines are cheap. airlines are trying to outdo each other w/ their promos. just check out cebupacificair.com or philippineairlines.com for flights within the country. #2 is right. don't try the street food but we have lots of restos serving great food. it's not going to be a problem.

yes, cebu has really nice dive spots and so does panglao in bohol. i don't agree with #2 that you take the superferry from manila to cebu. it's a waste of time. flying is better.

The ferry Manila to Cebu is great if you pay the little extra and get a good room. You may want to try Bantayan Island once you get out of Cebu. Have a look at www.wowbantayan

I'm heading to Boracay (from Oz) on the 8th December for 10 nights then flying to Phuket from Manila for another 10 nights. Accommodation wise I can tel you everything is on par.

Depends on your habits and preferred pleasures while traveling, rent and food tends to be cheaper in Thailand's major tourist destinations and cities than in the Philippines ( at least until the recent appreciation of the Thai Baht to 33+=U$ ) and the Philippines' the common vices like cigarettes, san miguel beer, local whiskey, Gilbeys gin, local dark rum, various other recreational substances and "companions" are cheaper than Thailand.

6 of one and 6 of t'other is about correct.

Thailand has that BUZZ about it but it is a bit stale. Bangkok has become expensive. Beer on resorts in Bangkok is a rip off. Thai food is just Thai food. But Thailand has A LOT of travellers there and is an old route. If you like 'backpackers and endless backpacker chat then Thailand is the world centre'. Thai rice is 1000 times better than philipine rice. The hill country is overrated. Temples.

Philipines is still in a backwater really. A: You do not get pestered so much in the Philipines. There is Great fish at some of the resorts. The staff are friendly. The places to stay are more expensive but at the resorts seem to be cleaner and better prepared for the $$ (exceptions excepted). Local transport in the Phil' is dirt cheap and local flights are almost nothing (book ahead). Diving in the philipines is miles ahead of Thailand. No real backpacker scene in Phil'. You will see a lot of middleaged men who have decided that the quiet life is for them and hell why not, do not judge them. Nothing happens in the Philipines. The rice terraces up at Sagada are WORLD CLASS. No temples.

I would choose the Philipines but then again I have been to both dozens of times and I am a cultureless bastard.

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<hr>I would choose the Philipines but then again I have been to both dozens of times and I am a cultureless bastard.<hr></blockquote>
I DID also and stayed!!Ditto on the above comment for me also, I love Thai food, the temples and customs are captivating the first couple of trips maybe but in the end there's ALMOST NO PLACE like the Philippines, "home sweet home" . ( I did feel like i could stay a few years in a half dozen places all over Indonesia though )