Philippines-1 week, December

Hey all,

Just moved to Korea and teaching here for a year. My boyfriend and I are trying to figure out where we want to go for my December break and the Philippines came up. We are both in our 20's and are just wondering where you can suggest for budget (no more than about $30cdn a night) where we can have our own room. We just want a place where we can relax on the beach, maybe do kayaking and snorkling, caving? (is it possible here?). Are there all inclusive places here as well? I know in Samoa food was usually included in the price of a fale. Is it the same here? Thanks SO much for any advice at all!

Cheers,
Allison = )

It might help if you let us know the equivalent in pesos or US dollars as some of us can't be bothered to go on XE.com to do your homework for you

Sorry, i thought most ppl knew that the canadian dollar is almost at par with the US dollar right now.

Hi there my site will be helpfull in finding the perfect destination for you http://www.letsgotophilippines.blogspot.com/</a>

Most people from korea go to Borrocay for there holidays, great kite surfing and night life and a stunning beach, i ended up getting stuckk there cause of the fun but then i like most places. Got a couple of caves there and the diving is good for beginnners and the snorkeling is ok, much better diving else where in the philippines though. The place i would deffinatly recomend though if you want to get away from the tourists and do a bit of surfing is Baler (they filmed some of "Apocalypse now" there), got the largest tree in asia there too and some huge water falls in the jungle, some very very cheap places to stay too, basic. Make sure you take all the money you need with you or you may have some problems once there. Its on the west coast 6-8 hours from manila.

thanks so much! :-) American money is ok to use over there? What about at the airport...can we jus ttake money out there? Or do we need to get money changed here in Korea before we go?

You can change money anywhere. Most people neither know nor care what the Canadian dollar is doing it's best to phrase your questions in US$ then everyone is on the same page. $30/day would probably be enough for budget travellers.

My pick is Palawan

WeiLong in The Philippines

while in manila i strongly suggest you take the crazy tour by Carlos Celdran www.calrosceldran.com . its a tour of colonial manila viewed in a very radical yet entertaining way.

There are many hostels and guesthouses in Mabini St. in Malate (friendly guesthouse, malvar Hostel, Mabini pension house) but if you are looking for 3-5 star hotels, there are also scattered around malate (Pan Pacific, Daimond, Hyatt).

For the beaches. avoid boracay if your want peace and quiet
i recommend panglao island in bohol, malapascua island and camotes island in cebu.
and Camiguin island is an enchanting place
Palawan is Nice and spankingly clean too

I would go to siquijor - or maybe camiguin - fly to manila or better yet direct to cebu city from inchon
go thru dumaguete to siquijor or camiguin from cagayan d oro ... panglao is almost as touristy as bohol these days ...
I live in Taegu now and have traved to the philippines twice a year for the past 12 years ...
bring US $$ and change them in the philippines or a credit card with a pin # and just use the ATM machines in larger towns and cities - have pesos - some in smaller demoninations ( 20 s and 100 s ) before going to remote areas

Leave the loonies and bring greenbacks, euros or pounds

Or just take money out of your ATM. It's safe, I use my US bankcards all the time, never had a problem.

You'll love Boracay. ABout your Can$30 per person, hmmmm, it's doable but can't guarantee fun.

Yeah 3-4 days in Boracay, do a couple days in Metro Manila, do some shopping. If you celebrate Christmas, you're in for a surprise. Chrsitmas is much better in the Philippines than in US or Canada, jsut wathc out for those fireworks hehehe.